3 July 2003

Hon Matt Robson MP, Progressive Deputy Leader

Even more housing for low income families encouraged

"Recent reports on housing crises around the country can be addressed with a bigger state house building programme and assistance for low income families to get mortgages. While the Coalition Government has made an impressive start, more progress is required," said Matt Robson, Progressive Deputy Leader.

"The Progressives are working as part of government to promote a more extensive state house building programme and a range of options to enable those on low incomes to own their own homes.

"Every New Zealander should be living in a safe, healthy and secure home. Our coalition government is greatly concerned about housing problems in many areas around the country and is interested in solving that problem as quickly as possible.

"The unprecedented sell off of state houses by the National led governments, their withdrawal from the state house building programme and their drastic cuts to apprenticeship schemes have left the country with too few houses and too few builders to quickly address current housing problems.

"The Progressives' programme includes: building more state houses, promoting more apprentices, working out targeted solutions for different groups and assistance for low income families to get mortgages.

"Investing in housing is a sensible bet for government. We have a wall of wood ready to be harvested and manufactured, promoting jobs in the timber industry. Our policy is to put every school leaver into jobs, education or training by 2005, and the coalition goal is for 2007. All this adds up to excellent potential to get more low income earners into adequate housing and will build on what has already been achieved," said Matt Robson MP, Progressive Deputy Leader.

The current budget has allocated and extra $260 million for housing and is working on key areas such as Northland, Eastern Bay of Plenty and the East Coast, along with supporting community sector housing projects. The Progressives support this work but are promoting faster and further work including assistance with mortgages for low income families.

ENDS

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