The Federal Government’s new HomeBuilder package will be way out of reach for many homeowners in Rockingham and Kwinana.

Federal Member for Brand, Madeleine King, said judging by feedback to her office, many people in Brand do not have, or do not want to borrow, more than $150,000 to renovate their bathroom or kitchen in the current economic climate.

“The Government has been raising expectations of a multi-billion dollar renovation rescue, but what we have is a package that is complicated to understand and too difficult for most local families in Brand to access,” Ms King said.

“It seems to be very poorly targeted.

“There won’t be many people in Brand who have access to a lazy $150,000 to start some renovations that could overcapitalise their house and get them further into debt.

“That is the strong feedback my office has been receiving since the scheme was announced on Thursday.”

Ms King said the scheme falls a long way short of what is needed to help prevent significant job losses in the local construction industry.

“The less done now to protect tradies’ jobs and support the hundreds of small and family-run businesses in Brand, the harder and longer the recovery will be,” she said.

Ms King said she was disappointed that the Morrison Government could fund a housing construction program but not one cent for social housing.

Federal Labor has repeatedly called on the Government to ensure that its construction support package included:

• Construction of more social housing;
• Repair and maintenance of existing social housing;
• Construction of more affordable rental accommodation for frontline workers;
• Expansion of the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme for new builds; and
• Grants to first home buyers who build their first home.

The Government’s HomeBuilder program barely ticks one of those boxes.

Industry representatives from the Master Builders Association and the Property Council of Australia, to the Community Housing Industry Association, National Shelter and Homelessness Australia have called for much more substantial packages.

This is another example of the Morrison Government selling short the people who live and work in Brand.