Mrs. Harvey questions the Premier on the absence of homelessness in the government's priority list. The Premier defends the government's actions and criticises the opposition's approach.

AnsweredQoN 554Legislative Assembly
Asked
6 August 2019
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

HOMELESSNESS —
THE BEACON
554. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Can
the Premier explain why his government's list of highest priorities, ''Our
Priorities: Sharing Prosperity'', does not contain a single reference to
addressing the issue of homelessness?

AnswerView source ↗

The government has $90 million in
the budget each year to deal with homelessness issues. As the minister
outlined, we are shortly to launch a 10-year homelessness strategy for the
first time ever in the history of Western Australia, and we have a whole range
of initiatives that we are putting in place, in conjunction with other
organisations, to deal with this particular issue. As members will know, it is
a complex issue and not one that lends itself to simple or easy solutions. That
is why government working with non-government organisations is very important.
On Friday night, for instance, I was
at a fundraising event for a homelessness charity with the member for Balcatta
and Hon Anne Aly, in support of that particular charity. We are also working
with the City of Perth. As we know, the City of Perth now has new leadership
and it is aware that there is a responsibility on the part of the City of Perth
to deal with homelessness and rough sleeping in the City of Perth. A whole
range of new measures are being put in place by the City of Perth.
I think it would be better for the
opposition if it stopped asking silly and immature questions and actually dealt
with this important issue in a mature and sensible fashion.

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