❓ Mr. Love questions the Premier about using the Bullsbrook quarantine facility for long-term housing for those on the social housing waitlist. The Premier explains its use for bushfire evacuees and deems it unsuitable for long-term homeless accommodation due to its isolation and lack of support services.
AnsweredQoN 911Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOUSING
— CENTRE FOR NATIONAL RESILIENCE
911. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I refer to the Wanneroo residents forced to flee their homes
as a result of the bushfires raging in Perth's north and who sought
refuge in the 500-bed Bullsbrook quarantine facility following an agreement
brokered between the state and federal governments. I also note the current
housing crisis gripping our state with a 0.7 per cent rental vacancy rate in
Perth and more than 30 000 people on the social housing waiting list. Has the
Premier approached the federal government about using the facility as a temporary
housing solution for Western Australians unable to put a roof over their heads?
— CENTRE FOR NATIONAL RESILIENCE
911. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I refer to the Wanneroo residents forced to flee their homes
as a result of the bushfires raging in Perth's north and who sought
refuge in the 500-bed Bullsbrook quarantine facility following an agreement
brokered between the state and federal governments. I also note the current
housing crisis gripping our state with a 0.7 per cent rental vacancy rate in
Perth and more than 30 000 people on the social housing waiting list. Has the
Premier approached the federal government about using the facility as a temporary
housing solution for Western Australians unable to put a roof over their heads?
AnswerView source ↗
The experiences of the east Wanneroo residents in the face of
what was an extraordinarily fierce bushfire must have been incredibly
harrowing. Many of them lost property and some have lost homes. That would have
a devastating impact on their lives. I am very proud that we have a government
that leads an extraordinary core of emergency services personnel who were able
to not only provide a response in relation to the bushfire emergency, but also
wrap their arms around these families and provide them with temporary
accommodation and assistance, particularly through the Premier's relief
payment. On the initiative of my government, we approached the federal
government about using the Bullsbrook facility to house, on a temporary basis,
firefighter personnel and families that were temporarily displaced. I want to
place on the record our appreciation to Prime Minister Albanese and Minister
Gallagher for moving heaven and earth to just make it happen. They really did
us proud in helping us stand by the people of east Wanneroo.
The Bullsbrook facility was a very
short drive from the actual fire zone. From that perspective it provided a unique
opportunity to utilise that facility—which is extraordinary, too, by
the way; it is the most amazing facility—to provide temporary
accommodation. Even when it came to small domestic animals, it was able to
accommodate them as well. It was a unique set of circumstances. It was close
by; these people do not need supports beyond their basic means such as food,
accommodation, washing their clothes and so on, but otherwise they were in good
spirits and continue to live independently. It was a very unique set of
circumstances and we are very pleased to have used the facility.
In
relation to the question from the member, it would not be a suitable facility
for long-term housing accommodation. It would not be a suitable
facility, particularly for people who are homeless, given the level of supports
that they would need. One of the things that struck me about the Bullsbrook
facility is just how isolated it is. That was by design; it was to be a quarantine facility. We did not want COVID
leaking out of it, so to speak. It was wonderful that we were able to
use that facility for this very unique set of circumstances. It would not be
suitable as a homelessness facility, and we have not made a request on that
basis.
what was an extraordinarily fierce bushfire must have been incredibly
harrowing. Many of them lost property and some have lost homes. That would have
a devastating impact on their lives. I am very proud that we have a government
that leads an extraordinary core of emergency services personnel who were able
to not only provide a response in relation to the bushfire emergency, but also
wrap their arms around these families and provide them with temporary
accommodation and assistance, particularly through the Premier's relief
payment. On the initiative of my government, we approached the federal
government about using the Bullsbrook facility to house, on a temporary basis,
firefighter personnel and families that were temporarily displaced. I want to
place on the record our appreciation to Prime Minister Albanese and Minister
Gallagher for moving heaven and earth to just make it happen. They really did
us proud in helping us stand by the people of east Wanneroo.
The Bullsbrook facility was a very
short drive from the actual fire zone. From that perspective it provided a unique
opportunity to utilise that facility—which is extraordinary, too, by
the way; it is the most amazing facility—to provide temporary
accommodation. Even when it came to small domestic animals, it was able to
accommodate them as well. It was a unique set of circumstances. It was close
by; these people do not need supports beyond their basic means such as food,
accommodation, washing their clothes and so on, but otherwise they were in good
spirits and continue to live independently. It was a very unique set of
circumstances and we are very pleased to have used the facility.
In
relation to the question from the member, it would not be a suitable facility
for long-term housing accommodation. It would not be a suitable
facility, particularly for people who are homeless, given the level of supports
that they would need. One of the things that struck me about the Bullsbrook
facility is just how isolated it is. That was by design; it was to be a quarantine facility. We did not want COVID
leaking out of it, so to speak. It was wonderful that we were able to
use that facility for this very unique set of circumstances. It would not be
suitable as a homelessness facility, and we have not made a request on that
basis.
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