Lawmaking Powers for the Commonwealth Parliament Regarding Help to Buy
Help to Buy (Commonwealth Powers) Bill 2025
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Council
Assent
Introduced by: The Hon Paul Scully MP (ALP); The Hon Penny Sharpe MLC (ALP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
Scott Farlow LIB
“The Opposition supports the Help to Buy (Commonwealth Powers) Bill 2025. It is good to see the Government backing the Commonwealth’s Help to Buy shared equity scheme despite cynically closing the NSW Shared Equity Home Buyer Helper scheme from 30 June 2024, which there was a question about in question time today.”
John Ruddick LIBT
“The Libertarian Party opposes the Help to Buy (Commonwealth Powers) Bill 2025, and it opposes it with vehemence. On 12 August 1986 former President Ronald Reagan wisely said, "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ’I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”
Abigail Boyd GRN
“The Greens do not object to the Help to Buy (Commonwealth Powers) Bill 2025. Now that it is just a simple referral of powers to the Commonwealth, it all seems completely above board. However, I will make a few comments about what has brought us to where we are now. It is true that for a time I was employed in a bank as an investment banker. It was an interesting and informative time of my life.”
Courtney Houssos ALP
“As usual in the Legislative Council, we have canvassed some big issues. I think that was an excellent debate to have, but I simply commend the bill to the House. This important bill will enable the Federal Government to enact this Help to Buy scheme. We believe that it is one of the many levers we can pull to address the housing crisis confronting our State. I commend the bill to the House.”
News articles and press releases
Help to Buy (Commonwealth Powers) Bill 2025
Mr PAUL SCULLY, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces — 2025-05-07
This bill provides for the adoption of specific provisions of the Commonwealth’s Help to Buy Act 2024 via a targeted referral of legislative powers so that the Commonwealth’s shared equity scheme, Help to Buy, can operate in New South Wales. This bill also includes consequential amendments to New South Wales legislation that governs housing assistance, transfer duty and land tax matters.