FED: Premiers like the innkeeper - Cherry

AAP General News (Australia)
12-25-2003
FED: Premiers like the innkeeper - Cherry

BRISBANE, Dec 25 AAP - Australia's five mainland premiers were like the Bethlehem innkeeper
refusing to find affordable housing for families without a home, Democrats Senator John
Cherry said today.

Senator Cherry said the continuing property boom had delivered a $1.6 billion stamp
duty windfall to the Australian states.

But Australia's 100,000 homeless people - including 6,745 families with children -
were missing out.

"The $1.6 billion in windfall state revenue in the last six months could ensure that
every child in Australia and their family have a roof over their heads despite booming
housing prices," Senator Cherry said.

He said Tasmanian Premier Jim Bacon acknowledged the windfall and agreed to allocate
$45 million from his stamp duty windfall to affordable housing.

"But the other five premiers have failed to follow suit, despite their most recent
mid-year budget reviews adding a whopping $1.6 billion to stamp duty collections in property
this year alone," Senator Cherry said.

"At Christmas, we remember that Jesus' family was denied accommodation at the overcrowded
inn at Bethlehem and forced to shelter in a stable.

"For 6,745 Australian families, the Christmas story is a day-to-day reality as they
face the prospect of homelessness."

AAP ch/cd

KEYWORD: XMAS DEMOCRATS

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