1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,920 Speaker 1: It was a lot of detail throwing through yesterday around 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:06,200 Speaker 1: the budget and use that a landmark agreement between every 3 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:09,400 Speaker 1: level of government is going to aim to tackle Australia's 4 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:13,680 Speaker 1: housing affordability crisis by building one million new homes over 5 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:17,400 Speaker 1: five years now. It's called the National Housing Accord and 6 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:20,959 Speaker 1: the agreements designed to incentivize the construction of cheaper housing 7 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 1: in popular regions. It's all supposed to start by twenty 8 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:28,640 Speaker 1: twenty four. And much of Australia's housing affordability crisis has 9 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:31,560 Speaker 1: been caused as well as a result of a lack 10 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:35,639 Speaker 1: of supply as a great number of prospective buyers compete 11 00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 1: for some of those properties. But we've also got a 12 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 1: situation here in the Northern Territory where there just isn't 13 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:44,640 Speaker 1: enough affordable housing and enough housing across the board in 14 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:47,320 Speaker 1: a lot of ways in public housing as well. Now 15 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: joining me in the studio to talk more about what 16 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:53,159 Speaker 1: was announced when it comes to housing in the budget 17 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 1: in the Federal budget is Peter McMillan, the executive Officer 18 00:00:56,520 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 1: of NT Shelter. Good morning to you, Peter, are you 19 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 1: really well, Thanks so much for your time this morning. Peter, 20 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:06,960 Speaker 1: talk us through what was announced in the budget when 21 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:08,800 Speaker 1: it comes to this housing accord. 22 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 2: Firstly, yeah, well CADID there were a lot of positive 23 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:15,360 Speaker 2: measures around housing, which is it's great to see. We 24 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:17,480 Speaker 2: probably needed a budget like this with a focus on 25 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:20,560 Speaker 2: housing around ten years ago, to be honest, but those 26 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:23,760 Speaker 2: years have gone and we look forward from here in 27 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:27,200 Speaker 2: seeing I guess more leadership at a commonwealth level around 28 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 2: a housing plan, a plan to address Australia's housing and 29 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 2: homelessess challenges, and as you point out, we certainly have 30 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:36,679 Speaker 2: our share of those problems in the Northern territory. When 31 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:39,960 Speaker 2: you're going into the budget, there are already commitments from 32 00:01:39,959 --> 00:01:43,120 Speaker 2: the government to build thirty thousand social and affordable homes 33 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 2: over five years. That was a ten billion dollar commitment 34 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 2: and some of those houses were to go to women 35 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:51,480 Speaker 2: and children fleeing domestic family violence, around four thousand homes 36 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:54,600 Speaker 2: out of that thirty which is very important of course, 37 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:58,000 Speaker 2: and also to older women at risk of homelessness, and 38 00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:02,040 Speaker 2: also ten thousand affordable homes for frontline workers such as police, 39 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:05,480 Speaker 2: nurses and cleaners. That's Australia wide. I just want to 40 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 2: stress that we need now to really roll up the sleeves, 41 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:12,120 Speaker 2: be smart, about how we work together in the territory 42 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:14,120 Speaker 2: to ensure that we get our fair share of loose 43 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:14,760 Speaker 2: of spoils. 44 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:17,440 Speaker 1: I think that that's such an incredibly important point to 45 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:19,679 Speaker 1: make because you know, sometimes you see these figures and 46 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:21,920 Speaker 1: you think, oh, that seems amazing, but then when you 47 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:25,079 Speaker 1: talk about the Northern Territory having to fight for that share, 48 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:26,840 Speaker 1: it's not just a given, is it. 49 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:28,640 Speaker 2: It's not a given at all. I mean, we all know, 50 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 2: those of us who live and work up here, know 51 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 2: the level of housing need that we have. I think 52 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 2: more people across Australia are starting to get a better 53 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:39,120 Speaker 2: understanding of that. And in the last few months actually, 54 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 2: there was a really important report handed down by the 55 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:46,119 Speaker 2: Productivity Commission which basically said that the funding that's distributed 56 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:49,320 Speaker 2: for housing homelessness needs to be based on need rather 57 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:52,639 Speaker 2: than population share. And that's music to our he is really, 58 00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:54,640 Speaker 2: that's what we've been saying for a long time. We 59 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:56,919 Speaker 2: know we've got twelve times a rate of homelessness. That's 60 00:02:56,960 --> 00:02:59,000 Speaker 2: not something that you get taught about when you're living 61 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 2: down South, when you're at school. I had no idea 62 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:02,960 Speaker 2: until you come up here and see it firsthand. The 63 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 2: levels of overcrowding and so there's a lot of work 64 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 2: to be done on housing as well. I think what's 65 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 2: important is building a population to support a forty billion 66 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 2: dollar economy by twenty thirty. When the government wants to 67 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:18,240 Speaker 2: have a thirty billion dollar economy, that's kind of have 68 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:21,000 Speaker 2: a population of three hundred thousand. They reckon, that's twenty 69 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:23,600 Speaker 2: percent more people than what we have now, and we 70 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:26,959 Speaker 2: already struggle to house. Go anywhere near housing. Actually the 71 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:29,000 Speaker 2: number of people we already have in the territory. 72 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:31,840 Speaker 1: I think again, you know, you go, that's such an 73 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 1: important point because you think where are they going to live? 74 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 2: I think any conversation and I notice the Antimus are 75 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 2: starting a conversation on this. I believe a forum around 76 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:45,800 Speaker 2: that twenty thirty forty billion dollar economy. I think it's 77 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 2: a very important community consultation and community conversation to have. 78 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 2: I think housing needs to be very much in the mix. 79 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:55,160 Speaker 2: And now more Australians are talking about housing. They're realizing that, 80 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 2: you know, Australians want a budget that addresses their needs, 81 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 2: whether it be around cost of living or around having 82 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 2: a place to live that's affordable. And governments right across 83 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:07,520 Speaker 2: Australia are now committed apparently to this accord, as you mentioned, 84 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 2: and I just want to that was new news out 85 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 2: of the budget. An aspirational target of one million new 86 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 2: homes over the five years from twenty twenty four through 87 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:20,400 Speaker 2: to twenty twenty nine. That's a big number. It actually 88 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 2: is the number of how if it was all social 89 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 2: and affordable it would be fantastic, and if it was 90 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 2: to be pulled off, it'll be huge. But I mean 91 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 2: it's an aspirational target. I'm not sure how many people 92 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 2: believe we're going to get close to that in those years. 93 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:38,680 Speaker 2: But what's important is we've got the Local Government Association 94 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:41,479 Speaker 2: ALGA is party to this. We've apparently got all the 95 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:44,920 Speaker 2: state and territory governments, and we've got institutional investors like 96 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:48,360 Speaker 2: superannuation funds who have cash to spend, Katie on behalf 97 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:50,560 Speaker 2: of their members. They want to get a return for 98 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 2: their superannuation members. What better placed than to put into 99 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 2: social affordable housing if they can get a modest but reasonable, 100 00:04:57,279 --> 00:04:58,560 Speaker 2: predictable return, and then. 101 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:01,040 Speaker 1: How exactly would it work, Like we that housing accord, 102 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:03,039 Speaker 1: who's going to build the homes? Well? 103 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:06,039 Speaker 2: I think largely it's going to be a combination of 104 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:10,680 Speaker 2: Australian property sector, building construction sector with the community housing sector. 105 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:13,800 Speaker 2: I would suspect we've talked before a bit about community 106 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:15,840 Speaker 2: housing and a role that they play, the important role 107 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 2: that they play in reinvesting profits back into building more housing. 108 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 2: If we're talking about a million properties, that's a huge 109 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:26,119 Speaker 2: amount of scale and I've got no doubt that there'd 110 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 2: be a community housing providers right across Australia now really 111 00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:32,280 Speaker 2: I guess jumping at the bit to try and get 112 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 2: a share of that housing. It's going to be great 113 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 2: for their business, but also it will be great social 114 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:38,360 Speaker 2: outcomes for Australians as well. 115 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 1: Peter, Look, I'm always a little bit skeptical. I think 116 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 1: it's part of my nature as a journalist and broadcaster. 117 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:49,240 Speaker 1: But I know this. You know, in recent years, Jacindra Durn, 118 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:52,720 Speaker 1: the Prime Minister in New Zealand, had made significant announcements 119 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:56,400 Speaker 1: around building public housing and around you know, the numbers 120 00:05:56,440 --> 00:05:58,719 Speaker 1: of public housing homes that she would like to see 121 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 1: for those lower income or homeless. And really it's not 122 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:06,360 Speaker 1: happened in New Zealand in recent years from what I 123 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:09,839 Speaker 1: have read and what I can see. Do you think 124 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:11,640 Speaker 1: we're really going to be able to do this. 125 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 2: I think it's good to be skeptical and always have 126 00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:17,400 Speaker 2: a degree of healthy skepticism. Kadie, There's no doubt about that. 127 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:20,760 Speaker 2: I think it starts with a vision and leadership, and 128 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 2: that's what I think we saw in New Zealand in 129 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:26,800 Speaker 2: terms of a statement that New Zealand's are a prosperous 130 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:29,800 Speaker 2: country that can afford to do better in terms of housing. 131 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 2: It's people. They haven't executed that well, and I think 132 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 2: we can learn from what they've done wrong. But I 133 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:39,480 Speaker 2: think with any commitments we make in Australia, it's about 134 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 2: how fair income we are and as a team effort, 135 00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:45,400 Speaker 2: it's going to require the states and territories to put 136 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:48,039 Speaker 2: aside petty bickering that's been going on over the last 137 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:50,080 Speaker 2: ten years round who's responsible for housing? Is it a 138 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:54,679 Speaker 2: commonwealth responsibility, is it a take state and territory government responsible? 139 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:56,800 Speaker 2: And what role does local government playing this as well? 140 00:06:56,880 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 2: So we're better than that. We can move beyond that now, 141 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:01,320 Speaker 2: and I think we are starting to see the leadership 142 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:05,279 Speaker 2: to say we need institutional investment, we need local government, 143 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 2: we need state and territory governments and the Commonwals government 144 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 2: to get this national problem resolved, and I think we 145 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 2: can make significant inroads, but by Gley, we're going to 146 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:15,960 Speaker 2: need to really be smart up here and make sure 147 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 2: that we can get some of that house and it's 148 00:07:17,880 --> 00:07:20,000 Speaker 2: on off. Of coursewever it's more jurisdiction, but we've got 149 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:20,600 Speaker 2: a lot of need. 150 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:23,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, we certainly do. And much like I guess the 151 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:26,800 Speaker 1: argument that we've been seeing nationally as well around domestic 152 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 1: violence is that you know, there's this real push from 153 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:31,600 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory that it not be on a per 154 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 1: capita base, but more so on a needs base. Do 155 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:35,320 Speaker 1: you think that it should be similar when it comes 156 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:35,760 Speaker 1: to housing. 157 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:38,520 Speaker 2: Absolutely, and we've been saying that for years now and 158 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 2: it's very heartening to see that comes through and the 159 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 2: reporter refer to before agreement to that from the Productivity Commission. 160 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 2: That's not going to automatically happen, though, Katie. We need 161 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 2: all the state and territory governments to say, look, we're 162 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 2: all Australians, we all deserve the same level of access 163 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:57,560 Speaker 2: to housing and to homelessness services as well. And it 164 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:01,520 Speaker 2: makes of course it makes sense to rectify and have 165 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 2: funding based on need, but it is going to take 166 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:08,160 Speaker 2: the state and territory government treasurers and commonworth to agree 167 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:11,160 Speaker 2: that we can redistribute funding based on need, just like 168 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 2: you know, doctor Shae Brown and others have been prosecuting 169 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 2: that case very effectively for domestic family violence services. We 170 00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 2: couldn't agree more. It's exactly the same in homelessness. 171 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 1: Peter, just paint a picture for us right now about 172 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:25,120 Speaker 1: how things are going in the Northern Territory when it 173 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 1: comes to the housing situation and homelessness. I think that 174 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 1: a lot of us can see the homelessness issues that 175 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:33,480 Speaker 1: we have got in the Northern Territory, but have we 176 00:08:33,520 --> 00:08:35,880 Speaker 1: got a situation as well where people are still finding 177 00:08:35,920 --> 00:08:39,240 Speaker 1: it really tough to find homes if they move here 178 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:41,720 Speaker 1: to work in different sectors. How tough is it at 179 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:42,120 Speaker 1: the moment? 180 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:47,320 Speaker 2: Look, it's extremely tough, and we put out a rental survey. 181 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:50,480 Speaker 2: We've had eighty one responses recently to that. We've been 182 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 2: checking with our member organizations as to what they're seeing 183 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:56,960 Speaker 2: on the ground. They're saying it's incredibly it's incredibly tough. 184 00:08:57,320 --> 00:09:00,640 Speaker 2: We've got a number of families that are sharing the 185 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:04,840 Speaker 2: same house, some are staying some women we know of 186 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 2: that are staying in domestic family violent shelters, of course 187 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:09,920 Speaker 2: they can't afford the place in the private rental market. 188 00:09:10,559 --> 00:09:12,480 Speaker 2: Some that are staying with their X because they can't 189 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:14,319 Speaker 2: afford to leave their X they haven't got anywhere where 190 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:16,880 Speaker 2: they can live. And people that are also planning or 191 00:09:16,920 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 2: leave in the territory and are leaving in old Territory 192 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:22,040 Speaker 2: because they simply can't find somewhere to live. Now, there 193 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:25,320 Speaker 2: are different ways that we can, I guess try and 194 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 2: make some in rays on that problem, Katie. One is 195 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:30,120 Speaker 2: in terms of the prices that that time tenants are 196 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 2: expected to pay for rent. And I think we need 197 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:34,320 Speaker 2: to have a conversation in laws and territory as to 198 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:38,679 Speaker 2: when the rental market is at such low vacancy rates, 199 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:40,920 Speaker 2: like maybe less than two percent, we need to look 200 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:43,959 Speaker 2: at how we can apply a reasonable cap on rent increases. 201 00:09:44,679 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 2: You know, we've I've got a story here of family 202 00:09:46,679 --> 00:09:49,840 Speaker 2: that have been living in their place for four years 203 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:53,360 Speaker 2: and authors all of a sudden overnight, they've had the 204 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:55,920 Speaker 2: rent basically put up by one hundred and fifty dollars 205 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:58,720 Speaker 2: and the landlord said it was a forty percent increase. 206 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 2: And the landlord said we'll have. If you don't like it, 207 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:03,360 Speaker 2: move on, and the tendant say, well, you know, can't 208 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:05,840 Speaker 2: risk saying not to that and ending up homeless because 209 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:08,040 Speaker 2: there's nowhere else to be and and you know, all 210 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:11,240 Speaker 2: the viewings are so competitive, so you know, we need, 211 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:13,600 Speaker 2: I think to have a think about that. You know, 212 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:16,599 Speaker 2: as a landlord myself, I think we all want to 213 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 2: try and get good rent and market rent. I get that, 214 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:21,720 Speaker 2: but when you've got basically nothing in the market to rent, 215 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:23,640 Speaker 2: I think it's reasonable to say, look, what are we 216 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:26,400 Speaker 2: trying to achieve here, and is it fair to kick 217 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:28,240 Speaker 2: out a family. Of course they can't afford one hundred 218 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:30,079 Speaker 2: and forty hundred and fifty dollars a week increase when 219 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:32,320 Speaker 2: they've been good tenants and making the territory their home. 220 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:34,520 Speaker 2: Yet I think we can do. Which didn't happen in 221 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 2: the government government's budget which was disappointing was the Treasurer 222 00:10:38,559 --> 00:10:41,800 Speaker 2: himself noted that rents have gone through the roof and 223 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 2: there hasn't been any cost of living adjustment for renters. 224 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 2: And so while all the housing is incredibly important and welcome, 225 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:54,200 Speaker 2: it's what's happening right now with further price cost of 226 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:57,560 Speaker 2: living increases projected through gas electricity rises. There's a lot 227 00:10:57,600 --> 00:10:59,600 Speaker 2: of people very stressed about the cost of living. 228 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:02,240 Speaker 1: Even when you look at the CPI from yesterday, the 229 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:05,760 Speaker 1: ABS releasing those figures and seven percent for us here 230 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 1: in Darwin, that cost of living is you know, it's 231 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:10,400 Speaker 1: astronomical for so many people right now. 232 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:13,600 Speaker 2: It is. It's causing a lot of anxiety. And when 233 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:16,480 Speaker 2: you hear that inflation hasn't even piqued it and interest 234 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:20,440 Speaker 2: rates high for people with a mortgage or people trying 235 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:24,000 Speaker 2: to repay alone, then yeah, it's a very very tough 236 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:25,920 Speaker 2: time out there and I think the next budget next 237 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:29,640 Speaker 2: year we'll need to continue that conversation around what we 238 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 2: can do to ease cost of living burdens in the 239 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:36,280 Speaker 2: meantime until all this additional housing supply comes online. 240 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:38,920 Speaker 1: Peter, I've only got about thirty seconds. But you know, 241 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:41,160 Speaker 1: for the territory government, is it, you know, is the 242 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:44,160 Speaker 1: message that they really need to be pushing as hard 243 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:46,960 Speaker 1: as possible to the feeds at this point to get 244 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:47,480 Speaker 1: our share. 245 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 2: Yeah. So the media release that was issued by the 246 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:56,040 Speaker 2: Chief Minister and Minister Law was very positive about the budget. 247 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:58,160 Speaker 2: They said they've been advocating for a lot of those things, 248 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:01,720 Speaker 2: including housing. It was in the budget, but we can't 249 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:05,240 Speaker 2: declare victory yet. We have to now basically be business ready. 250 00:12:05,240 --> 00:12:07,079 Speaker 2: We have to have our sorry, we have to be 251 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:08,960 Speaker 2: shovel ready. We have to have these projects ready to go, 252 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:10,720 Speaker 2: we have to have a business cases ready to go, 253 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:12,800 Speaker 2: and we have to fight for the territory, no doubt 254 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:13,199 Speaker 2: about that. 255 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:17,440 Speaker 1: Well, Peter McMillan from Mt. Shelter, we always appreciate your time. 256 00:12:17,480 --> 00:12:19,280 Speaker 1: Thank you very much for coming on this morning and 257 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:20,120 Speaker 1: having a chat with us.