Election 2022: Perrottet and Morrison at odds on housing scheme and ICAC

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has distanced himself from Scott Morrison’s critique of Labor’s Help to Buy housing scheme.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, left, with Scott Morrison, right, on Tuesday. Picture: Jason Edwards

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has distanced himself from Scott Morrison’s critique of Labor’s Help to Buy housing scheme as a “force to sell” plan and says all ­options should be on the table.

The Prime Minister has been critical about the federal opposition’s national equity scheme, dubbed the Help to Buy scheme, which would save eligible home buyers up to $380,000 in some areas by covering 40 per cent of the property’s equity.

The homeowner is not ­required to pay Labor back as long as they remain below the income cap – $90,000 for individuals and $120,000 for couples.

Mr Morrison has seized on the fact that once a person’s income passes the cap, they will have to pay back the 40 per cent or else sell the home.

While homeowners do need to start paying Labor back for the ­equity after they pass the income threshold, there is a two-year “grace period” and they are able to pay in instalments depending on their financial situation.

Both Mr Morrison and Mr Perrottet were campaigning in Bennelong, Sydney, on Tuesday and appeared alongside each other at a press conference. When asked if he agreed with Mr Morrison’s critique of Labor’s housing policy, Mr Perrottet said “it was important to be open-minded” about housing policies.

“I’m open to all ideas in relation to how we can drive home ownership,” he said. “We cannot have an Australia that can’t house its children and we have an obligation, I believe, to look at innovative thinking about helping particularly young people get their keys to their first home. We should be open to all new ideas.”

It follows the Perrottet government announcing it was developing a similar shared equity scheme earlier this year.

Mr Perrottet was also grilled over his comments regarding NSW’s Independent Commission Against Corruption, which Mr Morrison has labelled a “kangaroo court”. The NSW Premier has said such comments could “undermine” public confidence.

Mr Perrottet on Tuesday said he accepted he and the Prime Minister “may disagree” in ­regards to the operation of ICAC. “Here, in our state, the ICAC has played an important role in maintaining high standards in public office and in the public service,” the Premier said.

Mr Morrison said he “stood by” his comment that the ICAC was a kangaroo court. “I don’t believe the NSW ICAC is a model we should follow at the federal level,” he said.