❓ Mr Aubrey asks about the outcomes of the Cook Labor government's housing investment. The Minister responds with anecdotes highlighting the importance of social housing and the government's progress in delivering new homes, while criticising the opposition's stance.
AnsweredQoN 130Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Social housing
130. Mr Stuart Aubrey to the Minister for Housing and Works:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's record $5.1 billion investment into housing and homelessness
measures.
(1) Can the minister update the house on how this
investment is delivering outcomes for vulnerable Western Australians?
(2) Can the minister advise the house whether he
is aware of anyone who does not back these measures?
130. Mr Stuart Aubrey to the Minister for Housing and Works:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's record $5.1 billion investment into housing and homelessness
measures.
(1) Can the minister update the house on how this
investment is delivering outcomes for vulnerable Western Australians?
(2) Can the minister advise the house whether he
is aware of anyone who does not back these measures?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for his
question. As I said yesterday and as I have said over the last five years, nationwide
there continues to be significant pressures on, and demand for, housing across
the continuum but in particular social housing. We know that social housing is
the safety net. People can face circumstances that they would never think that
they could find themselves in, whether it is domestic violence, whether it is
health issues or whether it is a relationship break-up, and those people turn
to the social housing safety net. In fact, a few years ago, I was walking with
my chief of staff one evening near the QT Perth hotel and a fellow yelled out: "John
Carey, are you the Minister for Housing?" I was about to look over there
to say I was a little bit unsure. He came up to me, and he was a scruffy
fellow, and he was a bit rough, but he actually came up to me and proceeded to
tell me that he had had life struggles, that he had faced addiction, that he
had lost contact with his family and, I believe, that he had been through the
criminal system. But he actually said: "I'm now in transitional
accommodation at Boorloo Bidee Mia, and I'm looking forward to moving into a
social home and reconnecting with my children." That demonstrates the
complexity of people. I have heard this thing about certain people deserving
social housing and other people not. These stories are complex, but what it
remind us of is the transformational power of social housing and security of
the home.
I was reminded today when I
visited Gary and Norma. Gary and Norma are living in a social home in a complex
and he said, "I've got nothing to complain about in life." This is a
guy who is in a wheelchair, has multiple sclerosis and is 90% blind. He said, "I
have got nothing to complain about in life, and I love where I live, and I love
this housing unit." It is those kinds of stories that motivate this
government to drive social housing supply. Despite all the issues we have faced—cost
escalations, skilled labour shortages, everything that flew out of the COVID
pandemic—I am pleased to report to the Parliament that we have reached
and gone past that milestone of 3,000 social homes. We have actually delivered
3,028 social homes to the system. I can tell members right now we will not draw
a line in the sand. We will continue to drive that critical housing supply,
because this side of the house understands it, not like the other side, which
opposes housing and refused even before the election to match a social housing
target. This side genuinely understands and believes that we need to provide
that safety net and that we need to provide housing for the most vulnerable in
our community.
question. As I said yesterday and as I have said over the last five years, nationwide
there continues to be significant pressures on, and demand for, housing across
the continuum but in particular social housing. We know that social housing is
the safety net. People can face circumstances that they would never think that
they could find themselves in, whether it is domestic violence, whether it is
health issues or whether it is a relationship break-up, and those people turn
to the social housing safety net. In fact, a few years ago, I was walking with
my chief of staff one evening near the QT Perth hotel and a fellow yelled out: "John
Carey, are you the Minister for Housing?" I was about to look over there
to say I was a little bit unsure. He came up to me, and he was a scruffy
fellow, and he was a bit rough, but he actually came up to me and proceeded to
tell me that he had had life struggles, that he had faced addiction, that he
had lost contact with his family and, I believe, that he had been through the
criminal system. But he actually said: "I'm now in transitional
accommodation at Boorloo Bidee Mia, and I'm looking forward to moving into a
social home and reconnecting with my children." That demonstrates the
complexity of people. I have heard this thing about certain people deserving
social housing and other people not. These stories are complex, but what it
remind us of is the transformational power of social housing and security of
the home.
I was reminded today when I
visited Gary and Norma. Gary and Norma are living in a social home in a complex
and he said, "I've got nothing to complain about in life." This is a
guy who is in a wheelchair, has multiple sclerosis and is 90% blind. He said, "I
have got nothing to complain about in life, and I love where I live, and I love
this housing unit." It is those kinds of stories that motivate this
government to drive social housing supply. Despite all the issues we have faced—cost
escalations, skilled labour shortages, everything that flew out of the COVID
pandemic—I am pleased to report to the Parliament that we have reached
and gone past that milestone of 3,000 social homes. We have actually delivered
3,028 social homes to the system. I can tell members right now we will not draw
a line in the sand. We will continue to drive that critical housing supply,
because this side of the house understands it, not like the other side, which
opposes housing and refused even before the election to match a social housing
target. This side genuinely understands and believes that we need to provide
that safety net and that we need to provide housing for the most vulnerable in
our community.
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