Since the introduction of the First Home Owners Grant Scheme on July 1 2000, more than 250000 grant applications have been processed.
Below is information on the boost to the First Home Owners Grant.

NSW First Home Buyers Grant to Boost Housing Starts

HIA, Australia's largest building association has welcomed the decision to triple the First Home Owners Grant (FHOG) for purchases of new housing.
The measure will stimulate business activity and help address the severe housing shortage.

HIA Executive Director, Mr Graham Wolfe said, when the FHOG was doubled for new house purchases in 2001 the number of new dwellings built increased by 3,000 per month over a nine month period across Australia.
HIA expects the initiative announced today to provide an increase up to 5,000 new dwellings in NSW.

"It is appropriate that the measure targets assistance for new housing to
meet underlying and effective demand and importantly this measure provides immediate assistance," said Mr Wolfe.

Production rates for new housing have continued to drop and this has
exacerbated the gap between supply and underlying demand. The measure
announced today will provide some assistance in pegging this gap and will
provide a healthy stimulus in activity for the NSW economy and help lift
business confidence throughout the sector.

"This measure will provide an immediate stimulus for new housing and help
restore business confidence across the sector particularly in the building
product manufacturing sector," said Mr Wolfe.

HIA has stressed the need to boost production of housing by 17,000 new
dwellings per annum to meet current underlying demand in NSW this
initiative will provide much need assistance in achieving this requirement.

Graham Wolfe, Executive Director - HIA NSW
http://hia.com.au/hia/news/article/MR/NSW/NSW%20First%20Home%20Buyers%20Grant.aspx
First home buyers will be eligible for the First Home Owners Boost from today (14 October, 2008).