Australian Capital Territory
Housing Assistance Public rental Housing Assistance Program 2006 (No 2)
Disallowable instrument DI2006-178
made under the  
Housing Assistance Act, 1987, s 12 (1) (Housing Assistance Programs)

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Housing Assistance Programs are the policy framework for the provision of public housing. 

In 1989 the Commissioner for Housing made a program called the Public Rental Housing Assistance Program (PRHAP), which has been amended from time to time. In July 2005, PRHAP was re-written to meet modern drafting standards and to provide a complete version of PRHAP for notification on the register, and some minor revisions were made in December 2005. Further amendments were made in early June 2006 to give effect to decisions made in the context of the 2006/07 ACT Budget.

Additional amendments are now being made to provide a power under clause 23 for the Commissioner to transfer a tenant, on the tenant’s application, where the transfer would enable more efficient management of the public housing stock. Such transfers would be strictly voluntary and not subject to the eligibility and other provisions of the Program that normally apply to housing applications. This same treatment will also be available to tenants wishing to exchange accommodation with another tenant.