Darwin News
Help Augusto Homes Families
The full extent of the Henderson Government's failure to honour its promise to introduce building indemnity insurance was reinforced today for 12 Territory families left stranded by the collapse of Augusto Homes.
Opposition Leader Terry Mills said little hope was given to those people caught in the middle of the insolvency of Augusto Homes at today's creditors meeting in Darwin.
Mr Mills said the meeting heard there are 12 incomplete homes as a result of the collapse, with a liability estimated to exceed half-a-million dollars.
'It was made clear at today's meeting that those housing projects won't be completed,' Mr Mills said.
'This means the families in the process of getting houses built by Augusto Homes will almost certainly have to pay for the projects to be completed themselves.
'The impact on these ordinary Territory families will be significant, yet much of the financial and emotional pain could have been avoided had the Labor Government honoured its promise, dating back to 1996, to introduce a home warranty scheme.
'What's more frustrating is that the Territory Parliament passed a law in 2006 to introduce building indemnity insurance – but it was never enacted.'
Mr Mills said the Territory is one of just two jurisdictions that still doesn't have a form of building indemnity insurance.
'These families have been badly let down, not just by the failure to implement a building warranty scheme, but also by the Henderson Government's inert response to the crisis they now face.
'Earlier this month when I highlighted the plight of a young Territory family, whose dream home in the rural area remained unfinished after the collapse of Augusto Homes, Treasurer Delia Lawrie recommended they contact Building Advisory Services.
'The feedback I've had is that BAS has been able to offer little practical assistance.
'The Government should consider something more substantial. The Treasurer should seriously consider offering interest free loans to tide over affected families – and honour the long-overdue promise to introduce building indemnity insurance.'
2009-10-29
