Housing Payment Deduction Scheme proposal

On 11 April 2013, the Commonwealth Government released an exposure draft of a Bill to establish a Housing Payment Deduction Scheme. The proposed scheme provides for tenants of public housing and state-owned and managed Aboriginal housing who are in arrears or at risk of arrears to have their rent compulsorily deducted from their Centrelink benefits. The scheme aims to prevent evictions and possible homelessness, and to reduce the cost of managing arrears. The proposal is linked to an initiative specified in the Commonwealth Government’s white paper on homelessness, The road home, and a reform identified in the National Affordable Housing Agreement. Submissions are due by April 23. Read about the proposed Housing Payment Deduction Scheme.