Opposition: Extend home loan scheme

The Opposition wants the State Government to extend its First Start home loan scheme for low income earners.

The scheme announced in February offered a shared equity home loan to 3,000 West Australian families over three years to help them build their own home.

The Opposition's Treasury spokesman, Troy Buswell, says in the three months to May 3,865 people had applied for the loan.

He says the figures show the scheme is popular and the government must extend it.

"It's a serious issue for the government. How are they going to determine who gets access to the grants and who doesn't and are they going to extend the scheme or bring forward monies into this year that may have been spent in other budgets?," he said.

"I mean the housing affordability crisis is one of the single most important factors facing the long term future of this state."

"It would appear from the massive early response that if they don't do that they're going to be turning away first homebuyers. How do you say to a young West Australian look put your aspirations on hold for a year, come back next year and you may be lucky enough to win the lottery and win a handout from the government? That approach is not fair."
 
Via :  abc.net.au