Home builders offered $25,000 reassurance as ACT signs HomeBuilder stimulus

The ACT government was second-last only to Queensland in finalising its participation in the delivery of the HomeBuilder grant, designed to keep the residential construction industry afloat.

The federal grants will be paid alongside state and territories' first home owner grants for new builds.

Since the ACT changed to a concession for first home owners last year, delivering the funding presented unique challenges to Canberra, according to a government spokesperson.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the government had been working with the Commonwealth to address "definitions, compliance and monitoring" issues associated with the grants.

He said the federal government hadn't fully contemplated them prior to its announcement.

"The federal government did not consult with any state or territory government prior to announcing the scheme, which is disappointing - this is not how to achieve the best outcomes for industry or the community," Mr Barr said.

Housing Industry Association regional director Greg Weller welcomed Wednesday's announcement. He said now it was important Canberra builders got the details of when and how that money will be delivered.

"We understand that these are complex negotiations that have to happen and we don't know how much details the states and territories had prior to the federal announcement; what we can't do is delay it any longer," he said.

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Mr Weller said the impact of coronavirus on the Canberra construction industry was still being assessed, with further outbreaks in Victoria creating further uncertainty.

"It is very difficult to know what we are facing, which is all the more reason we need to get the detail of this program out as soon as possible so people can start applying for it," he said.

Federal Housing Minister and Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar said all states and territories except for Queensland had now signed on to deliver support for the 1 million Australians employed in the residential construction sector.

"Since the announcement of HomeBuilder there has been huge interest from around the country, with more than 37,000 Australians registering their interest in the program," Mr Sukkar said.

"HomeBuilder is demand-driven and grants are not limited. Eligible home buyers who enter into a building contract for a new home or rebuild, between June 4 and December 31, 2020, will receive the grant."

More than 830 Canberrans had registered their interest in the HomeBuilder grants as of Monday.

Canberra Liberals leader Alistair Coe said Mr Barr's government had put Canberra at the bottom of the pack.

"Many Canberrans would rightly be wondering why the Barr government would unfairly disadvantage them by taking so long to sign on when just about every other jurisdiction was already benefiting," Mr Coe said.

"We know how extortionately expensive it is to buy a house and land package in the ACT because of Labor's strangle on land supply. That's why Canberra families need every bit of extra help they can get."