❓ The Minister for Housing outlines the government's investment in social housing and criticises the opposition's stance on the issue, highlighting stakeholder support for the government's approach.
AnsweredQoN 260Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SOCIAL HOUSING — 2023–24 STATE BUDGET
260. Ms C.M. COLLINS to the Minister for Housing:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's record investment to build more social houses across WA.
Can the minister please further outline to the house how this budget's
additional investment will further boost housing supply to ensure that
vulnerable Western Australians can have access to affordable housing?
260. Ms C.M. COLLINS to the Minister for Housing:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's record investment to build more social houses across WA.
Can the minister please further outline to the house how this budget's
additional investment will further boost housing supply to ensure that
vulnerable Western Australians can have access to affordable housing?
AnswerView source ↗
I want to thank the member for her
question.
Our government is very clear in its
commitment to accelerate the delivery of housing and, in particular, social
housing. In the last answer, I gave our record and said what we are achieving.
With the Premier, I announced a new funding injection of $511 million in this
budget to boost social housing and tackle homelessness. That is a serious
investment to top up our existing fund and set the target now of providing 4 000
social homes in Western Australia. It also includes a new pilot program for the
regions, which is a supported landlord model. That is when we either spot
purchase or construct, but mostly spot purchase, a unit and connect it with a rough
sleeper and ensure that they have sustained support to maintain their tenancy.
That is a longer term pilot program for the regions based on our metro program,
which I announced last year.
I want to say this: the
sector and stakeholders have responded to that announcement. I want to put
those responses on the record because we have heard from the member for
Vasse that our government and I do not take this seriously. Kath Snell from Shelter WA said, ''We
congratulate the Premier and Minister Carey on this announcement today and commend
them on the momentum they continue to build in this space.'' Mark
Glasson from Anglicare WA said, ''I
want to congratulate and commend the Premier and Minister Carey. It's a
really good step.'' The Urban Development Institute of Australia
WA said it was —
A significant investment in social
housing and homelessness response announced today combined with construction
workforce initiatives yesterday. Great to see proactive approach to housing
supply
The Real Estate Institute of Western
Australia, which rarely comments about social housing, said —
Today's announcement ticks
the box in terms of increasing housing supply and we hope will help put a roof
over the heads of the most vulnerable Western Australians.
The
Master Builders Association said that it is a significant investment and
creates a pipeline of work for the industry.
Across the board there is universal
support by the stakeholders, who understand that we take this seriously. There
was one lone voice who criticised it—Hon Steve Martin. Do members know
what he said? To be very clear, this is what he said: a complete waste of time.
There it is. That is a real insight into this opposition. It has no genuine
commitment to social housing. Hon Steve Martin and his team are repeatedly
missing in action. They are never at events and never engage stakeholders. They
are not taken seriously. There is a very clear difference between the government and the opposition. Opposition members
say that social housing is a complete waste of time. That is the ethos of the
Liberal Party. It has no interest in this. Remember this: not one of them could
make the Mission Australia lunch. I always
come back to that because it reflects their attitude to social services,
remembering that the Leader of the Liberal Party called it a fancy
event.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please,
members!
Mr J.N. CAREY : This is the
reality of the opposition. It believes that social housing is a complete waste
of time. We do not. We are doing everything we can to accelerate the delivery
of social housing in Western Australia.
question.
Our government is very clear in its
commitment to accelerate the delivery of housing and, in particular, social
housing. In the last answer, I gave our record and said what we are achieving.
With the Premier, I announced a new funding injection of $511 million in this
budget to boost social housing and tackle homelessness. That is a serious
investment to top up our existing fund and set the target now of providing 4 000
social homes in Western Australia. It also includes a new pilot program for the
regions, which is a supported landlord model. That is when we either spot
purchase or construct, but mostly spot purchase, a unit and connect it with a rough
sleeper and ensure that they have sustained support to maintain their tenancy.
That is a longer term pilot program for the regions based on our metro program,
which I announced last year.
I want to say this: the
sector and stakeholders have responded to that announcement. I want to put
those responses on the record because we have heard from the member for
Vasse that our government and I do not take this seriously. Kath Snell from Shelter WA said, ''We
congratulate the Premier and Minister Carey on this announcement today and commend
them on the momentum they continue to build in this space.'' Mark
Glasson from Anglicare WA said, ''I
want to congratulate and commend the Premier and Minister Carey. It's a
really good step.'' The Urban Development Institute of Australia
WA said it was —
A significant investment in social
housing and homelessness response announced today combined with construction
workforce initiatives yesterday. Great to see proactive approach to housing
supply
The Real Estate Institute of Western
Australia, which rarely comments about social housing, said —
Today's announcement ticks
the box in terms of increasing housing supply and we hope will help put a roof
over the heads of the most vulnerable Western Australians.
The
Master Builders Association said that it is a significant investment and
creates a pipeline of work for the industry.
Across the board there is universal
support by the stakeholders, who understand that we take this seriously. There
was one lone voice who criticised it—Hon Steve Martin. Do members know
what he said? To be very clear, this is what he said: a complete waste of time.
There it is. That is a real insight into this opposition. It has no genuine
commitment to social housing. Hon Steve Martin and his team are repeatedly
missing in action. They are never at events and never engage stakeholders. They
are not taken seriously. There is a very clear difference between the government and the opposition. Opposition members
say that social housing is a complete waste of time. That is the ethos of the
Liberal Party. It has no interest in this. Remember this: not one of them could
make the Mission Australia lunch. I always
come back to that because it reflects their attitude to social services,
remembering that the Leader of the Liberal Party called it a fancy
event.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please,
members!
Mr J.N. CAREY : This is the
reality of the opposition. It believes that social housing is a complete waste
of time. We do not. We are doing everything we can to accelerate the delivery
of social housing in Western Australia.
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