Will Rudd's rent scheme work? Will the states come on board? Is this just an election ploy? Is he just telling people what he thinks they want to hear? Will any such scheme eventually merely line the pockets of the wealthy and leave some Australians with even less chance to own their own homes?
Or, put more simply, do Australians need to rethink the idea of owning a single dwelling on a quarter acre block? Should we be thinking more in terms of alternative forms of housing - terrace housing, co-housing European style?
Can we go on expanding the suburbia of our capital cities? Are there less expensive more people friendly options?

No. Maybe. Yes, of course. Yes. Yes.Yes. Maybe. No. Possibly.

No it Wont . Its to support the developers and it is them who will get the subs not the public. Its an attempt to get small biz onside because we do NOT like being told who we can hire or fire.

Since WC were introduced thousands open thousands of small biz people have had the confidence to put on new staff.

The reason they have done that is because they do not fear union thugs walking in saying- No you cant sack that guy for stealing or lagging about smoking a joint.

You have to catch and warn him three times in writing.

The other thing is we DONT want the Government taking control of the private rentals in Austalia

And anyway its no where near enough which only shows yet again ALP still cant get their figures right.

All this from someone who does not like Howard.
The problem we have in Australiais there is no real opposition.
This is not the time to change Government and this isnt the plan to help familes renting. Its only to buy votes from builders and developers.
So the Answer is No. It wont work for familes but Yes it might work towards pulling a few private builders.

even if you knew the answers, ccat, there's nothing you can do about it. why not leave such questions to your betters? you know, the master class: politicians.

I think we must look at all options as far as helping the homeless people.

Why don't the Government look at topping up the rental for the Investors if we are supposed to help out. The Investor rents out property at a lower cost with the Goverment pays the difference.

Another way the Goverment can help people purchase more homes is by giving the home owner a Tax deduction on the interest payments made on their home. This way people can tustify purchasing a home that is theirs. Plus lowering the Stamp Duty on purchasing.

I have helped hundreds of clients get into Investment properties through www.npis.com.au, and I find it getting harder for many out there. By helping the people on claiming interest on their home will pur a whole new phase to owning a home.

Okay so far we've had one or two responses to the original question interspersed with people pushing barrows that have absolutely nothing to do with it.

PALE, this has nothing to do with Industrial Relations, DEMOS, this country is not going to move to the form of government your advocating, and for a nation of 20 million+ your form of government does not work.

As to the original question, I don't know. There is a good chance that the developers won't pass on the rebate to their renters. The problem with this whole area is that any money the government puts directly into the market is going to raise prices.

I concede that in my view, one could not slip a razor blade between Labor/Liberal nowadays. Labor in particular has let its voter base down very badly.

But agreed; that was not the question.
I hope RUDD is serious...?

It is absolutely critical to even acknowledge that renting is a viable part of living, and crucially;-low cost affordable housing is paramount.
At the very least, more power to Rudd for putting this on the agenda.

It will not work without the cooperation of the States though.

In my State it has not changed the plans of our Housing Minister to sell off 8,000 Public Houses whilst at the same time extolling the virtues of PH, and its vital role in society...WHERE HE ACKNOWLEDGES THE DEMAND FOR IT IS INCREASING. Go figure!

This is a H/Min. who was formerly a W/Comp.lawyer. he did an excellent job.

He is hell-bent as a politician on the slash/burn principle. AND...; and this is a matter of public record; he has two Parliamentary salaries coming into his household, (spouse in der' House. Not a Pol.),-and has chosen to avail himself of a scheme that won major party approval 4 years ago. The purchase of a Holden Statesman for $7,500 (the initial proposal approved was $750! The Auditor General stepped in). ALL other costs are met by the taxpayer. ALL. And the vehicle is for ALL use ; private use OK.
As a Minister of course; he also has a chauffeur driven vehicle.

What's my point? (other than the "power corrupts..." thing!). There is a snowball's chance in hell of the success of this scheme, if a State Minister has these kind of priorities/philosophies.

Is Rudd's scheme a good one? Yes! I have to wonder if he already knows that it will stall....

My own feeling is that it is one of those nice little schemes which make good election headlines and which will just quietly fade away after Kevin settles in to the Lodge. He has no intention of actually doing anything about it and will already have a range of excuses ready to explain his failure to do anything....along with his failure to do a number of other impossible things...his campaign is beginning to take on an Alice in Wonderland quality....

Communicat,

There is already a name for those sorts of promises "non-core". Remember that phrase, twas coined by our current PM.

We could give Rudd's idea-plan some support_something like this (his Plan ) has worked in America and Europe) Why not copy it here...after all, its just a copied plan from something that is already working elsewhere.
Its been proven that people who manage to get support are more likely to pick up their lives and get above the mess they have happened to land in ( for one reason or another) and their lives and all around them benefit from improvements, it is also common for most people to rise up above this level of support to become self sufficient members of society.
I see such support/ rent assistance, (or whatever) as the family support many lack these days due to our modern lifestyle and lack of family and or community support.
Lets help people get a start in helping themselves, belonging is the best start.
Have others any better plan's

We could give Rudd's idea-plan some support_something like this (his Plan ) has worked in America and Europe) Why not copy it her...after all its just a copied plan of something that is already working elsewhere.
Its been proven that people whom get support are more likely to pick up their lives and get above the mess they have happened to land in ( for one reason or another) and their lives and all around them benefit from improvements, it is also common for most people to rise up above this level of support to become self sufficient members of society.
I see such support/ rent assistance, or whatever as the family support many lack these days due to our modern lifestyle and lack of family and or community support.
Lets help people get a start in helping themselves, belonging is the best start.
Have others any better plan's?
Mabye you can offer them to Rudd'd team?

No it will not work and the whole of the ALP rank and file is against it.
It is a foolhardy misguided thing to do it will create more problems for the homeowner.
The reasons for the problems with housing affordability is.
1 Low interest rates.
2. Investors are jumping in front of the true home dwellers and gazumping them in the queues with the ready money to buy the land and genuine home dwellers are being beaten to make the offer for the land.
Negative gearing is not producing affordable rents those that already have a house and many more are being assisted and subsidised so land is not available. Kevin Rudd has never struggled so he doesn't understand and his housing spokesperson has not got a clue and should be sacked. Howard has engineered this whole problem and Labor will have to try and sort it out.
3. Terminate negative gearing.
4. Terminate stamp duty for home dwellers but retain it for investors.
5. Assist home dwellers with the Government assisting by paying 25% of the interest on the loan to the Building Society on the home dwellers behalf this is called MIRAS -Mortgage Interest Rate From Source.
6 Rudd has failed the people of Australia by appeasing Uranium Mining Companies by supporting expansion of Uranium Mining this is another misguided disaster also.
7. Also taking the unilateral step in supporting the logging of old growth forests somebody stop the fool before it is too late is he another reactionary Tony Blair ?

Bronco Lane
Here Here and well said.
James it DOES have to do with industrial R.
Its Rudds way of trying to buy back some of the private devolpers.
Ok what about cheap Government land being made available - Like they used to?
Give the Develpoers a miss.
Government blocks from 5 to ten to 50 grand.
Worked before- and it will work again.
The last thing we want is Government taking over private housing.
Look at the RTA- What a disgrace.
They have NO powers to assist the home owner.
If your house is trashed and you have not received rent for 3 to 6 months too bad!
If you are the low life that trashed the house your treated like royalty.
By the way its the home owners that ARE FORCED to send the bonds to the Government! them THEM!! to use the interest.
You however after buying and creating this oportunity for somebody to rent - get No help what so ever.
No Thanks!