QLD: PM's wife lauds charity tax benefits

AAP General News (Australia)
08-21-2009
QLD: PM's wife lauds charity tax benefits

By Darren Cartwright

BRISBANE, Aug 21 AAP - Therese Rein has praised the benefits of greater tax breaks
for charity donations as she unveiled a new program for the homeless.

The wife of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is patron of the Australian Common Ground Alliance,
which on Friday unveiled a $40 million program to tackle homelessness in Queensland.

Speaking at the launch function in Brisbane, Ms Rein said philanthropy was alive and
well in the United States, where Common Ground originated.

"I've got to say that we hear a lot about philanthropy in the United States," Ms Rein said.

"You need to know that for every 70 cents donated by a corporation, or an individual,
they get $1 off their tax.

"I hadn't understood that until last year."

She said the New York Common Ground project had raised $US35 million ($A42 million)
using the tax break.

The proposed Brisbane Common Ground project will create 146 housing units and will
be the state's first permanent supportive housing project for people who are homeless
or on low incomes.

"They are not offered a temporary bed. They are not offered a tenancy that only lasts
a certain time and then have to leave," Ms Rein said.

"They are offered a tenancy as long as they want to be there.

"The commitment is they will pay 30 per cent of their income."

She said in the New York project about a third of tenants had not been homeless but
were low-paid workers.

Federal Housing Minister Tanya Plibersek and Queensland Community Services Minister
Karen Struthers announced a joint federal-state commitment of $4.38 million to the project.

Construction company Grocon is building the complex on a no-profit basis, with any
savings to be given back to the project.

A facility is already operating in Adelaide, and a Melbourne project is under construction.

A property has been earmarked in South Brisbane for the complex, but it remains subject
to negotiations.

Common Ground chairwoman Penny Tarrant said plans for the building were at the design
stage, with construction expected in 2010.

"It's a very tight timeline," Ms Tarrant said.

The tenant mix would be 50-50 homeless and low-income workers and all would be single people.

It is estimated on any given night in Brisbane, 2,070 people are homeless, including
288 sleeping rough and 1,325 in boarding houses.

AAP dac/pjo/jl/mn

KEYWORD: HOUSING WRAP (PIX AVAILABLE)

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.