Keystart - Shared Equity Home Loan

Submitted by Louise Sales on Tue, 17/05/2011 - 15:20

Extract from Hansard
[COUNCIL — Tuesday, 17 May 2011]
p3223b-3223b
Hon Lynn MacLaren; Hon Simon O'Brien

KEYSTART — SHARED EQUITY HOME LOAN

Hon Lynn MacLaren to the Minister for Finance representing the Minister for Housing

I refer to the eligibility criteria for a Keystart ‘shared equity' home loan, and ask —

(1) Can the Minister explain why if you are a sole parent ‘facing losing your home as a result of a
relationship breakdown or bereavement’, you satisfy those criteria, but if you are a sole parent facing
losing your home for some other reason, you do not?

(2) Does Keystart Loans Limited or the Minister for Housing have the discretion to assess an application
for a ‘shared equity’ home loan other than strictly in accordance with the eligibility criteria?

(3) If no to (2), why not?

(4) Does Keystart Loans Limited or the Minister for Housing have the discretion to waive any part of a
requirement where all other eligibility criteria are otherwise satisfied?

(5) If no to (4), why not?

Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied:

The Department of Housing advises:

(1) The criteria for sole parents faced losing their home as a result of a relationship breakdown or
bereavement was initiated by the Government of the day in 2005. It was to assist sole parents dealing
with a relationship breakdown or bereavement of a partner and who, as a result of these difficult
circumstances, face losing their homes.

(2) Keystart's Chief Executive Officer has been provided with delegated discretion by the Keystart Board to
approve applications outside the criteria in exceptional circumstances.

(3) Not applicable

(4) See answer to part (2) above

(5) Not applicable