❓ Mr. Bowler asks about WA's performance in providing suitable housing for remote Indigenous communities compared to the rest of Australia. The Minister responds positively, highlighting WA's success in exceeding targets for building and refurbishing houses under a national agreement.
AnsweredQoN 412Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
INDIGENOUS
HOUSING
412. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER to the Minister for Housing:
Having suitable housing is a critical element in overcoming
the social disadvantage faced by people living in our remote Indigenous
communities, particularly those in my electorate of Kalgoorlie, and I refer
especially, as I have raised with the minister, to the problems in Laverton.
Can the minister provide an insight into how Western Australia is performing in
this area compared with the rest of Australia?
HOUSING
412. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER to the Minister for Housing:
Having suitable housing is a critical element in overcoming
the social disadvantage faced by people living in our remote Indigenous
communities, particularly those in my electorate of Kalgoorlie, and I refer
especially, as I have raised with the minister, to the problems in Laverton.
Can the minister provide an insight into how Western Australia is performing in
this area compared with the rest of Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
Thanks very much to the member for Kalgoorlie for his
question, and indeed his strong advocacy for the challenges we face as a
government in providing housing in the remote communities, and some of the
other communities that fall outside that remote space, suitable to the people
who live there, and in ensuring that those services and essential housing
services are provided to an adequate level.
I am sure members of the chamber are aware that the
Department of Housing not only deals with public housing, is involved in
developing land for affordable housing under the state government strategy for
the provision of affordable housing and assists people into housing through
Keystart loans, but also has a key role in remote Indigenous communities in the
provision of housing, and, in 91 of those communities, the provision of
essential services. With a state the size of Western Australia it is indeed a
challenge. These are very, very remote areas, so just to get tradesmen and
materials to those areas is not only expensive, but also sometimes logistically
very hard. Back in 2008, WA and other states signed up to a Council of
Australian Governments agreement—a national partnership on remote
Indigenous housing—and, through that agreement, WA received almost half
a billion dollars in funding from the commonwealth over five years until June 2013.
That funding was provided on the basis that each state was challenged to meet
certain targets in the building and refurbishment of a certain number of houses
each year. It is also important to note that as a part of that agreement,
houses funded through that program are managed much more like mainstream
tenancies in that tenants have to pay rent and keep the place in good order et cetera,
which gives tenants a lot more responsibility with respect to ownership of the
properties.
I might highlight that although other states with certainly
far less challenging circumstances than Western Australia have struggled to
meet their targets, I am very pleased to say that Western Australia has done
very, very well on this front—all credit to the way the Department of
Housing has managed this issue. For the third year in a row, Western Australia
has exceeded its remote Indigenous housing target. In 2011–12, there
were 324 refurbishments—12 above target; and 69 new buildings—one
above target. For the three years until now, there have been a total of 745 refurbishments,
which is 25 over target; and 235 new builds, which is 16 over target. I think
that is an absolutely fantastic effort.
Of course it does not stop there.
Also this financial year, contracts have been awarded for another 95 new
builds, and another 66 refurbishments. I am confident, given the track record
of the Department of Housing and this government up to this point, it will,
indeed, meet those targets. We have certainly demonstrated our ability to deliver
new homes and refurbishments into remote communities. We have established
Western Australia as a national leader in the delivery of this program. I am
very pleased with the outcome. No doubt the challenge remains. It is never an
easy fix in this space, but I am confident that these steps head towards the
target of getting good outcomes in those remote Indigenous communities.
question, and indeed his strong advocacy for the challenges we face as a
government in providing housing in the remote communities, and some of the
other communities that fall outside that remote space, suitable to the people
who live there, and in ensuring that those services and essential housing
services are provided to an adequate level.
I am sure members of the chamber are aware that the
Department of Housing not only deals with public housing, is involved in
developing land for affordable housing under the state government strategy for
the provision of affordable housing and assists people into housing through
Keystart loans, but also has a key role in remote Indigenous communities in the
provision of housing, and, in 91 of those communities, the provision of
essential services. With a state the size of Western Australia it is indeed a
challenge. These are very, very remote areas, so just to get tradesmen and
materials to those areas is not only expensive, but also sometimes logistically
very hard. Back in 2008, WA and other states signed up to a Council of
Australian Governments agreement—a national partnership on remote
Indigenous housing—and, through that agreement, WA received almost half
a billion dollars in funding from the commonwealth over five years until June 2013.
That funding was provided on the basis that each state was challenged to meet
certain targets in the building and refurbishment of a certain number of houses
each year. It is also important to note that as a part of that agreement,
houses funded through that program are managed much more like mainstream
tenancies in that tenants have to pay rent and keep the place in good order et cetera,
which gives tenants a lot more responsibility with respect to ownership of the
properties.
I might highlight that although other states with certainly
far less challenging circumstances than Western Australia have struggled to
meet their targets, I am very pleased to say that Western Australia has done
very, very well on this front—all credit to the way the Department of
Housing has managed this issue. For the third year in a row, Western Australia
has exceeded its remote Indigenous housing target. In 2011–12, there
were 324 refurbishments—12 above target; and 69 new buildings—one
above target. For the three years until now, there have been a total of 745 refurbishments,
which is 25 over target; and 235 new builds, which is 16 over target. I think
that is an absolutely fantastic effort.
Of course it does not stop there.
Also this financial year, contracts have been awarded for another 95 new
builds, and another 66 refurbishments. I am confident, given the track record
of the Department of Housing and this government up to this point, it will,
indeed, meet those targets. We have certainly demonstrated our ability to deliver
new homes and refurbishments into remote communities. We have established
Western Australia as a national leader in the delivery of this program. I am
very pleased with the outcome. No doubt the challenge remains. It is never an
easy fix in this space, but I am confident that these steps head towards the
target of getting good outcomes in those remote Indigenous communities.
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