Hon James Hayward questions the Premier regarding the ongoing use of the Bullsbrook Centre for National Resilience, specifically inquiring about its potential use as emergency housing for homeless families. The Premier's response indicates the facility's unsuitability and highlights WA's investment in housing initiatives.

AnsweredQoN 461Legislative Council
Asked
10 May 2023
Portfolio
Leader of the House representing the Premier

QuestionView source ↗

CENTRE FOR NATIONAL
RESILIENCE — BULLSBROOK
461. Hon JAMES HAYWARD to the Leader of the House
representing the Premier:
I refer to the 500-bed Centre for
National Resilience in Bullsbrook.
(1) Can the
minister outline what options have been discussed with the commonwealth
government regarding the ongoing use of the facility?
(2) Considering
the large number of WA families with children who are currently homeless, will
the Premier make the facility available to provide children with a stable
environment?
(3) If no to (1), why not?
(4) Has the
commonwealth government explicitly refused to allow the facility to be used as
emergency housing for WA families with children?

AnswerView source ↗

(1)–(4) The
Centre for National Resilience in Bullsbrook was planned, designed and built by
the former Liberal–National commonwealth government for temporary
quarantine accommodation. Alternative uses for the facility are decisions for
its owner—the commonwealth government.
Previous
considerations have found the facility unsuitable for other purposes, including
as accommodation for people at risk of becoming homeless, primarily due
to its isolated location and the lack of surrounding services and amenities.
I also note that Australian Bureau of
Statistics data released last week showed that the number of people experiencing homelessness in Western Australia is
the lowest of all states and territories, due to the WA government's
record $2.4 billion investment in housing and homelessness initiatives.

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