Mr. Hyde asks about the progress of the Labor Party's pre-election commitment to establish a homelessness task force. Ms. McHale provides an update on the task force's activities, including consultation processes and timelines.

AnsweredQoN 345Legislative Assembly
Asked
11 September 2001
Member
Portfolio
Community Development

QuestionView source ↗

HOMELESSNESS TASK FORCE 345. Mr HYDE to the Minister for Community Development: One of the Labor Party’s excellent pre-election commitments was to establish a homelessness task force. Can the minister inform the House and the electorate about the progress of that task force? Ms McHALE

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for Perth for his interest in the issue of homelessness. The House may remember that on 23 July, Hon Tom Stephens and I announced the formation of a ministerial task force to drive the development of a strategy to address the issue of homelessness. The task force has met on four occasions and has established an action plan, which will allow for a two-stage consultation process. It is important that members of Parliament are aware that the first stage, to be conducted this month, will seek public comment through a homelessness issues paper. The issues paper has today been forwarded to non-government agencies, relevant government agencies, all electorate officers and interested individuals. Feedback on this issues paper will assist in the development of a draft strategy. The web site for the task force is up and running from today. The second stage of the process will be held in November, when stakeholders will be given the opportunity to consult and study the draft action plan before it is finalised. The task force will then report to the cabinet standing committee on social policy in January. The Government will ensure that the community, government agencies, non-government agencies and others have input into the development of this strategy. The strategy will provide advice on identifying the causes of homelessness in this State, including an understanding of homelessness in the regions, in which I know National Party members will be particularly interested. It will also identify gaps in service provision. This is an important process. In part, it fulfils our election commitment. More importantly, it addresses the issue of homelessness and will provide advice to the Government about how to address homelessness. This is a tragic and devastating social problem that confronts many Governments. I am hopeful that the report of this important task force will help shape government policy through the years.
HOMELESSNESS TASK FORCE
One of the Labor Party’s excellent pre-election commitments was to establish a homelessness task force. Can the minister inform the House and the electorate about the progress of that task force? Ms McHALE replied: I thank the member for Perth for his interest in the issue of homelessness. The House may remember that on 23 July, Hon Tom Stephens and I announced the formation of a ministerial task force to drive the development of a strategy to address the issue of homelessness. The task force has met on four occasions and has established an action plan, which will allow for a two-stage consultation process. It is important that members of Parliament are aware that the first stage, to be conducted this month, will seek public comment through a homelessness issues paper. The issues paper has today been forwarded to non-government agencies, relevant government agencies, all electorate officers and interested individuals. Feedback on this issues paper will assist in the development of a draft strategy. The web site for the task force is up and running from today. The second stage of the process will be held in November, when stakeholders will be given the opportunity to consult and study the draft action plan before it is finalised. The task force will then report to the cabinet standing committee on social policy in January. The Government will ensure that the community, government agencies, non-government agencies and others have input into the development of this strategy. The strategy will provide advice on identifying the causes of homelessness in this State, including an understanding of homelessness in the regions, in which I know National Party members will be particularly interested. It will also identify gaps in service provision. This is an important process. In part, it fulfils our election commitment. More importantly, it addresses the issue of homelessness and will provide advice to the Government about how to address homelessness. This is a tragic and devastating social problem that confronts many Governments. I am hopeful that the report of this important task force will help shape government policy through the years.
Ms McHALE replied: I thank the member for Perth for his interest in the issue of homelessness. The House may remember that on 23 July, Hon Tom Stephens and I announced the formation of a ministerial task force to drive the development of a strategy to address the issue of homelessness. The task force has met on four occasions and has established an action plan, which will allow for a two-stage consultation process. It is important that members of Parliament are aware that the first stage, to be conducted this month, will seek public comment through a homelessness issues paper. The issues paper has today been forwarded to non-government agencies, relevant government agencies, all electorate officers and interested individuals. Feedback on this issues paper will assist in the development of a draft strategy. The web site for the task force is up and running from today. The second stage of the process will be held in November, when stakeholders will be given the opportunity to consult and study the draft action plan before it is finalised. The task force will then report to the cabinet standing committee on social policy in January. The Government will ensure that the community, government agencies, non-government agencies and others have input into the development of this strategy. The strategy will provide advice on identifying the causes of homelessness in this State, including an understanding of homelessness in the regions, in which I know National Party members will be particularly interested. It will also identify gaps in service provision. This is an important process. In part, it fulfils our election commitment. More importantly, it addresses the issue of homelessness and will provide advice to the Government about how to address homelessness. This is a tragic and devastating social problem that confronts many Governments. I am hopeful that the report of this important task force will help shape government policy through the years.
I thank the member for Perth for his interest in the issue of homelessness. The House may remember that on 23 July, Hon Tom Stephens and I announced the formation of a ministerial task force to drive the development of a strategy to address the issue of homelessness. The task force has met on four occasions and has established an action plan, which will allow for a two-stage consultation process. It is important that members of Parliament are aware that the first stage, to be conducted this month, will seek public comment through a homelessness issues paper. The issues paper has today been forwarded to non-government agencies, relevant government agencies, all electorate officers and interested individuals. Feedback on this issues paper will assist in the development of a draft strategy. The web site for the task force is up and running from today. The second stage of the process will be held in November, when stakeholders will be given the opportunity to consult and study the draft action plan before it is finalised. The task force will then report to the cabinet standing committee on social policy in January. The Government will ensure that the community, government agencies, non-government agencies and others have input into the development of this strategy. The strategy will provide advice on identifying the causes of homelessness in this State, including an understanding of homelessness in the regions, in which I know National Party members will be particularly interested. It will also identify gaps in service provision. This is an important process. In part, it fulfils our election commitment. More importantly, it addresses the issue of homelessness and will provide advice to the Government about how to address homelessness. This is a tragic and devastating social problem that confronts many Governments. I am hopeful that the report of this important task force will help shape government policy through the years.

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