John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

Who benefited from the hand out? This grant was effectively from the Government to house builders and it was adding to house prices. All experience has shown, and experts agree, that builders rather than first-time buyers were reaping the rewards of the scheme. Peter Bacon is one such expert. The National Economic and Social Council argued as far back as 1993 that such grants were an inefficient and inequitable instrument to tackle housing needs. More importantly, such grants have served to push up house prices and land prices and have done more damage to those struggling to get a foot on the property ladder.

Direct hand outs never benefit those to whom they are targeted. There is plenty of evidence of that in agriculture. People get headage payments, go to the marts and give the money to the dealer.