Opposition questions the Premier's compassion regarding public housing concessions for age pensioners, given WA's financial position. The Premier defends the government's stance, citing long-term principles, housing pressures, and a COAG agreement for a moratorium.

AnsweredQoN 541Legislative Assembly
Asked
21 September 2010
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

PUBLIC HOUSING — AGE PENSION INCREASE
I have a supplementary question. Does the Premier not feel embarrassed that states in much worse financial positions than Western Australia are able to offer this concession while the Western Australian government is not caring enough to do so? Mr C.J. BARNETT

AnswerView source ↗

We are caring enough and we are keeping to the long-term principle. This state has huge pressures to provide housing, both public housing and more private housing development, which we are endeavouring to do. I think it is a reasonable position. All Premiers at the Council of Australian Governments meeting when this issue was raised accepted the basis that this would be a 12-month moratorium, which was extended to 18 months, and I think that is more than fair.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: We are caring enough and we are keeping to the long-term principle. This state has huge pressures to provide housing, both public housing and more private housing development, which we are endeavouring to do. I think it is a reasonable position. All Premiers at the Council of Australian Governments meeting when this issue was raised accepted the basis that this would be a 12-month moratorium, which was extended to 18 months, and I think that is more than fair.
We are caring enough and we are keeping to the long-term principle. This state has huge pressures to provide housing, both public housing and more private housing development, which we are endeavouring to do. I think it is a reasonable position. All Premiers at the Council of Australian Governments meeting when this issue was raised accepted the basis that this would be a 12-month moratorium, which was extended to 18 months, and I think that is more than fair.

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