Prime Minister gives DR Dossetor Address

The Prime Minister, the Hon Kevin Rudd has paid tribute to one of the fathers of the Australian housing industry in providing the annual DR Dossetor Address.  In his address to almost 1,000 industry professionals the Prime Minister said few Australians did more to pursue the dream of universal home ownership than Randall Dossetor. 

“The objective of our Government is to continue and strengthen the great Australian dream of home ownership.  It is to move Australia closer towards a home-owning democracy,” he said.

The Prime Minister described in detail the Housing Affordability Challenge.  Central to combating housing affordability was the need to boost the supply of housing.  Measures such as the Housing Affordability Fund, First Home Saver Accounts and the National Affordability Rental Scheme (technical paper released by the Prime Minister and Minister for Housing, Tanya Plibersek at the event) spearhead the Government’s, $2 billion plus funding commitment over the next four years.

In his address the Prime Minister also announced ‘a first class team of housing advisers’ for the National Housing Supply Council.  The Council will be the ‘chief adviser’ to the Federal Government on housing demand and supply.

“The members will include three property industry experts who are here with us today:

• Former Managing Director of Australand, Brendan Crotty;
• Managing Director of WilsonHomes and HIA Board Member, Stuart Wilson; and
• HIA’s Policy Chief Executive, Chris Lamont.

Welcome Aboard,” he said.

Other expert members of the council include:

• ANZ Chief Economist, Saul Eslake
• Former Director General of Planning NSW, Sue Holliday
• SHS Economics Director, Marcus Spiller
• WA Urban Development Coordinator, Marion Thompson and
• University of Sydney, Associate Professor Judy Yates.

The Prime Minister closed by paying tribute to HIA.  “We want the HIA, in the spirit of Randal Dossetor, to continue its work to make the Great Australian Dream a reality for more and more Australian families into the 21^st century.  It is part of building a stronger, fairer Australia for the future,” the Prime Minister said.