❓ Ms. Mettam questions the Minister for Housing on a perceived decrease in social housing stock. The Minister deflects, attacking the opposition's commitment to housing and homelessness, citing attendance at events and alleged misrepresentations.
AnsweredQoN 94Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SOCIAL HOUSING — STOCK
94. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Housing:
Thank
you. I have a supplementary question. Regardless of the minister's
spin, there is less social housing available than when he came to
government, and how on earth does that represent a good outcome for Western Australia?
94. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Housing:
Thank
you. I have a supplementary question. Regardless of the minister's
spin, there is less social housing available than when he came to
government, and how on earth does that represent a good outcome for Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
Let us talk about spin and the
opposition. Last year in an opinion piece, the Leader of the Liberal Party said
there were 1 000 rough sleepers in the city. In Parliament, she said, ''I
tried to correct it. I tried to fix it.'' She probably did not even
write the piece. We had the shadow housing minister deliberately distort
statistics about housing vacancies. I will not take any lectures from the
Liberal and National Parties. They have no real concern for housing or
homelessness. I will give members a really specific example—Mission
Australia's homelessness lunch. The Governor was there, the Deputy Lord
Mayor of Perth was there, I was there for the sixth year in a row, but not one
member of the opposition could bother turning up for 30 minutes. Where were
they? Where was the member for Cottesloe? Where was the member for Vasse?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please,
members!
Dr D.J. Honey : You've
got to be invited.
Mr J.N. CAREY : No, you don't!
This is the ignorance of the opposition. This is a free public event for all Western
Australians. Not one of them could find the time. That is their level of care
and concern. The opposition spokesperson for housing is so missing in action
that even at the Urban Development Institute of Australia event last week, I said I wanted to acknowledge the
shadow Minister for Housing—I always make sure that I acknowledge the opposition—but I was told he had
sent a staff member because he had not turned up. Then they said, ''That's pretty usual. It's not the first time.'' The opposition
has no commitment to housing and homelessness. I understand that the Liberal
member called the Mission Australia homeless lunch a fancy event. Is that what
you just said? You said a ''fancy event''.
Ms L. Mettam : I was not
referring to that event.
Mr J.N. CAREY : You are
shameless—absolutely shameless! None of you bother. There are 15 of you
and not one of you makes the time. It is shameful for the opposition, and that
reflects its lack of commitment and the lack of respect it has for the housing
and homelessness sector.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order! Member
for Landsdale, I have not given you the call yet. Member for Southern River and
others, applause is not appropriate.
opposition. Last year in an opinion piece, the Leader of the Liberal Party said
there were 1 000 rough sleepers in the city. In Parliament, she said, ''I
tried to correct it. I tried to fix it.'' She probably did not even
write the piece. We had the shadow housing minister deliberately distort
statistics about housing vacancies. I will not take any lectures from the
Liberal and National Parties. They have no real concern for housing or
homelessness. I will give members a really specific example—Mission
Australia's homelessness lunch. The Governor was there, the Deputy Lord
Mayor of Perth was there, I was there for the sixth year in a row, but not one
member of the opposition could bother turning up for 30 minutes. Where were
they? Where was the member for Cottesloe? Where was the member for Vasse?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please,
members!
Dr D.J. Honey : You've
got to be invited.
Mr J.N. CAREY : No, you don't!
This is the ignorance of the opposition. This is a free public event for all Western
Australians. Not one of them could find the time. That is their level of care
and concern. The opposition spokesperson for housing is so missing in action
that even at the Urban Development Institute of Australia event last week, I said I wanted to acknowledge the
shadow Minister for Housing—I always make sure that I acknowledge the opposition—but I was told he had
sent a staff member because he had not turned up. Then they said, ''That's pretty usual. It's not the first time.'' The opposition
has no commitment to housing and homelessness. I understand that the Liberal
member called the Mission Australia homeless lunch a fancy event. Is that what
you just said? You said a ''fancy event''.
Ms L. Mettam : I was not
referring to that event.
Mr J.N. CAREY : You are
shameless—absolutely shameless! None of you bother. There are 15 of you
and not one of you makes the time. It is shameful for the opposition, and that
reflects its lack of commitment and the lack of respect it has for the housing
and homelessness sector.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order! Member
for Landsdale, I have not given you the call yet. Member for Southern River and
others, applause is not appropriate.
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