Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 29 June 2011:

In regard to the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) Incentives in boom towns, and given that in reports during the 2009-10 Budget estimates hearings of the Community Affairs Legislation Committee that the number of incentives allocated in the areas of Karratha, Port Hedland, South Hedland, Broome and Newman were 24 incentives approved in Broome in Round 1, and none for Karratha, Port Hedland, South Hedland or Newman:

(1)   Can an update on NRAS applications and incentives offered to date be provided for the areas of:

  (a)   Karratha;

  (b)   Port Hedland;

  (c)   South Hedland;

  (d)   Broome;

  (e)   Newman;

  (f)   the Pilbara Region; and

  (g)   the Kimberley Region.

(2)   What is the department doing to improve the delivery of NRAS in mining regions across Australia where rent is extremely expensive.

(3)   In addition to the 6-star Building Code of Australia (BCA) guidelines, are any kind of tropical design guidelines being used in any parts of Western Australia, Northern Territory or Queensland; if not, why not.

(4)   Has the department advocated at all for the adoption of a tropical or regionally specific BCA that better suits the extreme weather conditions in the north west of Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland; if not, will it undertake to do so as a matter of urgency.