❓ Question regarding vacant Homeswest homes and the government's high-value property strategy. The Minister provides figures on vacant properties, sales, and new dwelling purchases, while also criticising the opposition's past record on the issue.
AnsweredQoN 509Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING — VACANT HOMES
I was interested to read an article in The West Australian last week relating to the number of vacant Homeswest homes in the state. Can the minister please inform the house of the number of vacant Homeswest homes in Western Australia and the progress on our government’s high-value property strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL
I was interested to read an article in The West Australian last week relating to the number of vacant Homeswest homes in the state. Can the minister please inform the house of the number of vacant Homeswest homes in Western Australia and the progress on our government’s high-value property strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL
AnswerView source ↗
Yes. I would like to thank the member for the question. I did notice the article in The West last week, headed “Thousands wait while 400 homes sit vacant”. I noticed the criticism from the shadow housing minister, the member for Rockingham, about the number of vacant properties and, indirectly, about our high-value housing strategy. This is probably a good opportunity to update the house on the high-value housing strategy which was introduced in 2009 and which was designed to enable us to sell high-value houses. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes, we are aware of some of the member for Rockingham’s antics in relation to houses and maintenance, but we will deal with that in a second. Let me tell the house what the strategy does. We sell houses that are of a high value. That gives us money, and we buy more houses in better value-for-money suburbs. As at 30 June this year we had sold 24. One has been sold and is awaiting settlement, three are on the market and five have been prepared for sale. The suburbs include Cottesloe, Mosman Park, Mt Claremont, Manning, Doubleview, Karrinyup et cetera. The sale of those properties has generated $22.8 million. That has enabled us to purchase, either through spot purchase or through construction, 81 new dwellings, and it is delivering exactly what we said it would deliver when we introduced it back in 2009. The second issue really sits around vacant properties. There are currently 435 vacant properties awaiting allocation in Western Australia. Of those, 279 are vacant awaiting maintenance. It is important to understand that if someone owns a property portfolio—we have quite a small one of 36 600 dwellings—from time to time a small percentage of those dwellings will be vacant. They will be vacant because people will be moving in or out or some of them will be vacant because they need maintenance. It is an unfortunate fact that, given the nature of some Homeswest tenancies, properties need maintenance when they are vacated. To put it into perspective, member for Rockingham, 435 homes is one per cent of the total housing portfolio. I am not a great property owner; however, I imagine that one per cent of an asset base being vacant at any time is a good outcome. One of the reasons I know it is a good outcome is that I happened to look at the situation in 2007 when someone else was in government. Homeswest had 1 268 vacant properties in Western Australia—1 268. I am interested, because by my recollection the member for Rockingham was a minister at that time. I did not hear him say that was outrageous; I did not hear him say that was unacceptable and a misuse of state assets. In fact, the then minister responsible said, “This is a non-issue.” That was the person sitting next to the member for Rockingham. I would like to know how we can go from 1 268 houses being a non-issue to 400 houses, one per cent of the stock, being a massive issue, and absolutely terrible. There are two other things I should point out to the house: firstly, the waiting list is now down to about 22 900. It is still too high but it is almost 2 000 lower than at its peak in November 2010. I hope that downward trend continues. Secondly, as I said, the number of vacant properties awaiting maintenance is 279. I think that is a pretty good outcome. One of the things that reflects is that maintenance of Homeswest properties—admittedly there were some issues with the head contractor model, but I think a lot of those issues are being put to bed — Mr M. McGowan : Were. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Does the member for Rockingham have concerns about maintenance? Mr M. McGowan : Yes. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes; okay. A lot of those issues are being put to bed. I am interested in the member for Rockingham’s issues and concerns with maintenance. I happen to have a copy here of the maintenance log from his former office from just before he moved in—that $600 000 lavish office refit he had done down on the twenty-first floor. I knew it was his when I moved in because it was beige, the same as his personality! I know he is interested in government maintenance, so I will very quickly read from two of the very important maintenance items that he personally requested. Firstly—this is very important—“Member’s shower exhaust suction is too great.” How on earth did he determine that his shower exhaust suction is too great? Was it that he could not read the newspaper or that there was not enough steam building up in the little shower cubicle while he was in there beautifying himself in the morning after he had run in from Rockingham? The second one, I think, takes the cake: “Minister’s shower maintenance.” It says, “Minister’s shower is too dim; Minister is asking for stronger light bulbs and additional lighting to his mirror.” Why would the member for Rockingham want additional lighting on his mirror? “Mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of us all?” I can see it every morning steaming up in the shower; half an hour in front of the mirror! “Put the lights on; let there be light.” Member for Rockingham, I am pleased to report that we have moved on a bit in how we focus on maintenance. Our focus is on getting houses available for tenants, not on getting the exhaust fumes out of our shower and certainly not on putting more light on our reflection as we gaze in wonderment at ourselves in the mirror!
Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: Yes. I would like to thank the member for the question. I did notice the article in The West last week, headed “Thousands wait while 400 homes sit vacant”. I noticed the criticism from the shadow housing minister, the member for Rockingham, about the number of vacant properties and, indirectly, about our high-value housing strategy. This is probably a good opportunity to update the house on the high-value housing strategy which was introduced in 2009 and which was designed to enable us to sell high-value houses. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes, we are aware of some of the member for Rockingham’s antics in relation to houses and maintenance, but we will deal with that in a second. Let me tell the house what the strategy does. We sell houses that are of a high value. That gives us money, and we buy more houses in better value-for-money suburbs. As at 30 June this year we had sold 24. One has been sold and is awaiting settlement, three are on the market and five have been prepared for sale. The suburbs include Cottesloe, Mosman Park, Mt Claremont, Manning, Doubleview, Karrinyup et cetera. The sale of those properties has generated $22.8 million. That has enabled us to purchase, either through spot purchase or through construction, 81 new dwellings, and it is delivering exactly what we said it would deliver when we introduced it back in 2009. The second issue really sits around vacant properties. There are currently 435 vacant properties awaiting allocation in Western Australia. Of those, 279 are vacant awaiting maintenance. It is important to understand that if someone owns a property portfolio—we have quite a small one of 36 600 dwellings—from time to time a small percentage of those dwellings will be vacant. They will be vacant because people will be moving in or out or some of them will be vacant because they need maintenance. It is an unfortunate fact that, given the nature of some Homeswest tenancies, properties need maintenance when they are vacated. To put it into perspective, member for Rockingham, 435 homes is one per cent of the total housing portfolio. I am not a great property owner; however, I imagine that one per cent of an asset base being vacant at any time is a good outcome. One of the reasons I know it is a good outcome is that I happened to look at the situation in 2007 when someone else was in government. Homeswest had 1 268 vacant properties in Western Australia—1 268. I am interested, because by my recollection the member for Rockingham was a minister at that time. I did not hear him say that was outrageous; I did not hear him say that was unacceptable and a misuse of state assets. In fact, the then minister responsible said, “This is a non-issue.” That was the person sitting next to the member for Rockingham. I would like to know how we can go from 1 268 houses being a non-issue to 400 houses, one per cent of the stock, being a massive issue, and absolutely terrible. There are two other things I should point out to the house: firstly, the waiting list is now down to about 22 900. It is still too high but it is almost 2 000 lower than at its peak in November 2010. I hope that downward trend continues. Secondly, as I said, the number of vacant properties awaiting maintenance is 279. I think that is a pretty good outcome. One of the things that reflects is that maintenance of Homeswest properties—admittedly there were some issues with the head contractor model, but I think a lot of those issues are being put to bed — Mr M. McGowan : Were. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Does the member for Rockingham have concerns about maintenance? Mr M. McGowan : Yes. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes; okay. A lot of those issues are being put to bed. I am interested in the member for Rockingham’s issues and concerns with maintenance. I happen to have a copy here of the maintenance log from his former office from just before he moved in—that $600 000 lavish office refit he had done down on the twenty-first floor. I knew it was his when I moved in because it was beige, the same as his personality! I know he is interested in government maintenance, so I will very quickly read from two of the very important maintenance items that he personally requested. Firstly—this is very important—“Member’s shower exhaust suction is too great.” How on earth did he determine that his shower exhaust suction is too great? Was it that he could not read the newspaper or that there was not enough steam building up in the little shower cubicle while he was in there beautifying himself in the morning after he had run in from Rockingham? The second one, I think, takes the cake: “Minister’s shower maintenance.” It says, “Minister’s shower is too dim; Minister is asking for stronger light bulbs and additional lighting to his mirror.” Why would the member for Rockingham want additional lighting on his mirror? “Mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of us all?” I can see it every morning steaming up in the shower; half an hour in front of the mirror! “Put the lights on; let there be light.” Member for Rockingham, I am pleased to report that we have moved on a bit in how we focus on maintenance. Our focus is on getting houses available for tenants, not on getting the exhaust fumes out of our shower and certainly not on putting more light on our reflection as we gaze in wonderment at ourselves in the mirror!
Yes. I would like to thank the member for the question. I did notice the article in The West last week, headed “Thousands wait while 400 homes sit vacant”. I noticed the criticism from the shadow housing minister, the member for Rockingham, about the number of vacant properties and, indirectly, about our high-value housing strategy. This is probably a good opportunity to update the house on the high-value housing strategy which was introduced in 2009 and which was designed to enable us to sell high-value houses. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes, we are aware of some of the member for Rockingham’s antics in relation to houses and maintenance, but we will deal with that in a second. Let me tell the house what the strategy does. We sell houses that are of a high value. That gives us money, and we buy more houses in better value-for-money suburbs. As at 30 June this year we had sold 24. One has been sold and is awaiting settlement, three are on the market and five have been prepared for sale. The suburbs include Cottesloe, Mosman Park, Mt Claremont, Manning, Doubleview, Karrinyup et cetera. The sale of those properties has generated $22.8 million. That has enabled us to purchase, either through spot purchase or through construction, 81 new dwellings, and it is delivering exactly what we said it would deliver when we introduced it back in 2009. The second issue really sits around vacant properties. There are currently 435 vacant properties awaiting allocation in Western Australia. Of those, 279 are vacant awaiting maintenance. It is important to understand that if someone owns a property portfolio—we have quite a small one of 36 600 dwellings—from time to time a small percentage of those dwellings will be vacant. They will be vacant because people will be moving in or out or some of them will be vacant because they need maintenance. It is an unfortunate fact that, given the nature of some Homeswest tenancies, properties need maintenance when they are vacated. To put it into perspective, member for Rockingham, 435 homes is one per cent of the total housing portfolio. I am not a great property owner; however, I imagine that one per cent of an asset base being vacant at any time is a good outcome. One of the reasons I know it is a good outcome is that I happened to look at the situation in 2007 when someone else was in government. Homeswest had 1 268 vacant properties in Western Australia—1 268. I am interested, because by my recollection the member for Rockingham was a minister at that time. I did not hear him say that was outrageous; I did not hear him say that was unacceptable and a misuse of state assets. In fact, the then minister responsible said, “This is a non-issue.” That was the person sitting next to the member for Rockingham. I would like to know how we can go from 1 268 houses being a non-issue to 400 houses, one per cent of the stock, being a massive issue, and absolutely terrible. There are two other things I should point out to the house: firstly, the waiting list is now down to about 22 900. It is still too high but it is almost 2 000 lower than at its peak in November 2010. I hope that downward trend continues. Secondly, as I said, the number of vacant properties awaiting maintenance is 279. I think that is a pretty good outcome. One of the things that reflects is that maintenance of Homeswest properties—admittedly there were some issues with the head contractor model, but I think a lot of those issues are being put to bed — Mr M. McGowan : Were. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Does the member for Rockingham have concerns about maintenance? Mr M. McGowan : Yes. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes; okay. A lot of those issues are being put to bed. I am interested in the member for Rockingham’s issues and concerns with maintenance. I happen to have a copy here of the maintenance log from his former office from just before he moved in—that $600 000 lavish office refit he had done down on the twenty-first floor. I knew it was his when I moved in because it was beige, the same as his personality! I know he is interested in government maintenance, so I will very quickly read from two of the very important maintenance items that he personally requested. Firstly—this is very important—“Member’s shower exhaust suction is too great.” How on earth did he determine that his shower exhaust suction is too great? Was it that he could not read the newspaper or that there was not enough steam building up in the little shower cubicle while he was in there beautifying himself in the morning after he had run in from Rockingham? The second one, I think, takes the cake: “Minister’s shower maintenance.” It says, “Minister’s shower is too dim; Minister is asking for stronger light bulbs and additional lighting to his mirror.” Why would the member for Rockingham want additional lighting on his mirror? “Mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of us all?” I can see it every morning steaming up in the shower; half an hour in front of the mirror! “Put the lights on; let there be light.” Member for Rockingham, I am pleased to report that we have moved on a bit in how we focus on maintenance. Our focus is on getting houses available for tenants, not on getting the exhaust fumes out of our shower and certainly not on putting more light on our reflection as we gaze in wonderment at ourselves in the mirror!
Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes, we are aware of some of the member for Rockingham’s antics in relation to houses and maintenance, but we will deal with that in a second. Let me tell the house what the strategy does. We sell houses that are of a high value. That gives us money, and we buy more houses in better value-for-money suburbs. As at 30 June this year we had sold 24. One has been sold and is awaiting settlement, three are on the market and five have been prepared for sale. The suburbs include Cottesloe, Mosman Park, Mt Claremont, Manning, Doubleview, Karrinyup et cetera. The sale of those properties has generated $22.8 million. That has enabled us to purchase, either through spot purchase or through construction, 81 new dwellings, and it is delivering exactly what we said it would deliver when we introduced it back in 2009. The second issue really sits around vacant properties. There are currently 435 vacant properties awaiting allocation in Western Australia. Of those, 279 are vacant awaiting maintenance. It is important to understand that if someone owns a property portfolio—we have quite a small one of 36 600 dwellings—from time to time a small percentage of those dwellings will be vacant. They will be vacant because people will be moving in or out or some of them will be vacant because they need maintenance. It is an unfortunate fact that, given the nature of some Homeswest tenancies, properties need maintenance when they are vacated. To put it into perspective, member for Rockingham, 435 homes is one per cent of the total housing portfolio. I am not a great property owner; however, I imagine that one per cent of an asset base being vacant at any time is a good outcome. One of the reasons I know it is a good outcome is that I happened to look at the situation in 2007 when someone else was in government. Homeswest had 1 268 vacant properties in Western Australia—1 268. I am interested, because by my recollection the member for Rockingham was a minister at that time. I did not hear him say that was outrageous; I did not hear him say that was unacceptable and a misuse of state assets. In fact, the then minister responsible said, “This is a non-issue.” That was the person sitting next to the member for Rockingham. I would like to know how we can go from 1 268 houses being a non-issue to 400 houses, one per cent of the stock, being a massive issue, and absolutely terrible. There are two other things I should point out to the house: firstly, the waiting list is now down to about 22 900. It is still too high but it is almost 2 000 lower than at its peak in November 2010. I hope that downward trend continues. Secondly, as I said, the number of vacant properties awaiting maintenance is 279. I think that is a pretty good outcome. One of the things that reflects is that maintenance of Homeswest properties—admittedly there were some issues with the head contractor model, but I think a lot of those issues are being put to bed — Mr M. McGowan : Were. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Does the member for Rockingham have concerns about maintenance? Mr M. McGowan : Yes. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes; okay. A lot of those issues are being put to bed. I am interested in the member for Rockingham’s issues and concerns with maintenance. I happen to have a copy here of the maintenance log from his former office from just before he moved in—that $600 000 lavish office refit he had done down on the twenty-first floor. I knew it was his when I moved in because it was beige, the same as his personality! I know he is interested in government maintenance, so I will very quickly read from two of the very important maintenance items that he personally requested. Firstly—this is very important—“Member’s shower exhaust suction is too great.” How on earth did he determine that his shower exhaust suction is too great? Was it that he could not read the newspaper or that there was not enough steam building up in the little shower cubicle while he was in there beautifying himself in the morning after he had run in from Rockingham? The second one, I think, takes the cake: “Minister’s shower maintenance.” It says, “Minister’s shower is too dim; Minister is asking for stronger light bulbs and additional lighting to his mirror.” Why would the member for Rockingham want additional lighting on his mirror? “Mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of us all?” I can see it every morning steaming up in the shower; half an hour in front of the mirror! “Put the lights on; let there be light.” Member for Rockingham, I am pleased to report that we have moved on a bit in how we focus on maintenance. Our focus is on getting houses available for tenants, not on getting the exhaust fumes out of our shower and certainly not on putting more light on our reflection as we gaze in wonderment at ourselves in the mirror!
The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes, we are aware of some of the member for Rockingham’s antics in relation to houses and maintenance, but we will deal with that in a second. Let me tell the house what the strategy does. We sell houses that are of a high value. That gives us money, and we buy more houses in better value-for-money suburbs. As at 30 June this year we had sold 24. One has been sold and is awaiting settlement, three are on the market and five have been prepared for sale. The suburbs include Cottesloe, Mosman Park, Mt Claremont, Manning, Doubleview, Karrinyup et cetera. The sale of those properties has generated $22.8 million. That has enabled us to purchase, either through spot purchase or through construction, 81 new dwellings, and it is delivering exactly what we said it would deliver when we introduced it back in 2009. The second issue really sits around vacant properties. There are currently 435 vacant properties awaiting allocation in Western Australia. Of those, 279 are vacant awaiting maintenance. It is important to understand that if someone owns a property portfolio—we have quite a small one of 36 600 dwellings—from time to time a small percentage of those dwellings will be vacant. They will be vacant because people will be moving in or out or some of them will be vacant because they need maintenance. It is an unfortunate fact that, given the nature of some Homeswest tenancies, properties need maintenance when they are vacated. To put it into perspective, member for Rockingham, 435 homes is one per cent of the total housing portfolio. I am not a great property owner; however, I imagine that one per cent of an asset base being vacant at any time is a good outcome. One of the reasons I know it is a good outcome is that I happened to look at the situation in 2007 when someone else was in government. Homeswest had 1 268 vacant properties in Western Australia—1 268. I am interested, because by my recollection the member for Rockingham was a minister at that time. I did not hear him say that was outrageous; I did not hear him say that was unacceptable and a misuse of state assets. In fact, the then minister responsible said, “This is a non-issue.” That was the person sitting next to the member for Rockingham. I would like to know how we can go from 1 268 houses being a non-issue to 400 houses, one per cent of the stock, being a massive issue, and absolutely terrible. There are two other things I should point out to the house: firstly, the waiting list is now down to about 22 900. It is still too high but it is almost 2 000 lower than at its peak in November 2010. I hope that downward trend continues. Secondly, as I said, the number of vacant properties awaiting maintenance is 279. I think that is a pretty good outcome. One of the things that reflects is that maintenance of Homeswest properties—admittedly there were some issues with the head contractor model, but I think a lot of those issues are being put to bed — Mr M. McGowan : Were. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Does the member for Rockingham have concerns about maintenance? Mr M. McGowan : Yes. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes; okay. A lot of those issues are being put to bed. I am interested in the member for Rockingham’s issues and concerns with maintenance. I happen to have a copy here of the maintenance log from his former office from just before he moved in—that $600 000 lavish office refit he had done down on the twenty-first floor. I knew it was his when I moved in because it was beige, the same as his personality! I know he is interested in government maintenance, so I will very quickly read from two of the very important maintenance items that he personally requested. Firstly—this is very important—“Member’s shower exhaust suction is too great.” How on earth did he determine that his shower exhaust suction is too great? Was it that he could not read the newspaper or that there was not enough steam building up in the little shower cubicle while he was in there beautifying himself in the morning after he had run in from Rockingham? The second one, I think, takes the cake: “Minister’s shower maintenance.” It says, “Minister’s shower is too dim; Minister is asking for stronger light bulbs and additional lighting to his mirror.” Why would the member for Rockingham want additional lighting on his mirror? “Mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of us all?” I can see it every morning steaming up in the shower; half an hour in front of the mirror! “Put the lights on; let there be light.” Member for Rockingham, I am pleased to report that we have moved on a bit in how we focus on maintenance. Our focus is on getting houses available for tenants, not on getting the exhaust fumes out of our shower and certainly not on putting more light on our reflection as we gaze in wonderment at ourselves in the mirror!
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes, we are aware of some of the member for Rockingham’s antics in relation to houses and maintenance, but we will deal with that in a second. Let me tell the house what the strategy does. We sell houses that are of a high value. That gives us money, and we buy more houses in better value-for-money suburbs. As at 30 June this year we had sold 24. One has been sold and is awaiting settlement, three are on the market and five have been prepared for sale. The suburbs include Cottesloe, Mosman Park, Mt Claremont, Manning, Doubleview, Karrinyup et cetera. The sale of those properties has generated $22.8 million. That has enabled us to purchase, either through spot purchase or through construction, 81 new dwellings, and it is delivering exactly what we said it would deliver when we introduced it back in 2009. The second issue really sits around vacant properties. There are currently 435 vacant properties awaiting allocation in Western Australia. Of those, 279 are vacant awaiting maintenance. It is important to understand that if someone owns a property portfolio—we have quite a small one of 36 600 dwellings—from time to time a small percentage of those dwellings will be vacant. They will be vacant because people will be moving in or out or some of them will be vacant because they need maintenance. It is an unfortunate fact that, given the nature of some Homeswest tenancies, properties need maintenance when they are vacated. To put it into perspective, member for Rockingham, 435 homes is one per cent of the total housing portfolio. I am not a great property owner; however, I imagine that one per cent of an asset base being vacant at any time is a good outcome. One of the reasons I know it is a good outcome is that I happened to look at the situation in 2007 when someone else was in government. Homeswest had 1 268 vacant properties in Western Australia—1 268. I am interested, because by my recollection the member for Rockingham was a minister at that time. I did not hear him say that was outrageous; I did not hear him say that was unacceptable and a misuse of state assets. In fact, the then minister responsible said, “This is a non-issue.” That was the person sitting next to the member for Rockingham. I would like to know how we can go from 1 268 houses being a non-issue to 400 houses, one per cent of the stock, being a massive issue, and absolutely terrible. There are two other things I should point out to the house: firstly, the waiting list is now down to about 22 900. It is still too high but it is almost 2 000 lower than at its peak in November 2010. I hope that downward trend continues. Secondly, as I said, the number of vacant properties awaiting maintenance is 279. I think that is a pretty good outcome. One of the things that reflects is that maintenance of Homeswest properties—admittedly there were some issues with the head contractor model, but I think a lot of those issues are being put to bed — Mr M. McGowan : Were. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Does the member for Rockingham have concerns about maintenance? Mr M. McGowan : Yes. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes; okay. A lot of those issues are being put to bed. I am interested in the member for Rockingham’s issues and concerns with maintenance. I happen to have a copy here of the maintenance log from his former office from just before he moved in—that $600 000 lavish office refit he had done down on the twenty-first floor. I knew it was his when I moved in because it was beige, the same as his personality! I know he is interested in government maintenance, so I will very quickly read from two of the very important maintenance items that he personally requested. Firstly—this is very important—“Member’s shower exhaust suction is too great.” How on earth did he determine that his shower exhaust suction is too great? Was it that he could not read the newspaper or that there was not enough steam building up in the little shower cubicle while he was in there beautifying himself in the morning after he had run in from Rockingham? The second one, I think, takes the cake: “Minister’s shower maintenance.” It says, “Minister’s shower is too dim; Minister is asking for stronger light bulbs and additional lighting to his mirror.” Why would the member for Rockingham want additional lighting on his mirror? “Mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of us all?” I can see it every morning steaming up in the shower; half an hour in front of the mirror! “Put the lights on; let there be light.” Member for Rockingham, I am pleased to report that we have moved on a bit in how we focus on maintenance. Our focus is on getting houses available for tenants, not on getting the exhaust fumes out of our shower and certainly not on putting more light on our reflection as we gaze in wonderment at ourselves in the mirror!
Let me tell the house what the strategy does. We sell houses that are of a high value. That gives us money, and we buy more houses in better value-for-money suburbs. As at 30 June this year we had sold 24. One has been sold and is awaiting settlement, three are on the market and five have been prepared for sale. The suburbs include Cottesloe, Mosman Park, Mt Claremont, Manning, Doubleview, Karrinyup et cetera. The sale of those properties has generated $22.8 million. That has enabled us to purchase, either through spot purchase or through construction, 81 new dwellings, and it is delivering exactly what we said it would deliver when we introduced it back in 2009. The second issue really sits around vacant properties. There are currently 435 vacant properties awaiting allocation in Western Australia. Of those, 279 are vacant awaiting maintenance. It is important to understand that if someone owns a property portfolio—we have quite a small one of 36 600 dwellings—from time to time a small percentage of those dwellings will be vacant. They will be vacant because people will be moving in or out or some of them will be vacant because they need maintenance. It is an unfortunate fact that, given the nature of some Homeswest tenancies, properties need maintenance when they are vacated. To put it into perspective, member for Rockingham, 435 homes is one per cent of the total housing portfolio. I am not a great property owner; however, I imagine that one per cent of an asset base being vacant at any time is a good outcome. One of the reasons I know it is a good outcome is that I happened to look at the situation in 2007 when someone else was in government. Homeswest had 1 268 vacant properties in Western Australia—1 268. I am interested, because by my recollection the member for Rockingham was a minister at that time. I did not hear him say that was outrageous; I did not hear him say that was unacceptable and a misuse of state assets. In fact, the then minister responsible said, “This is a non-issue.” That was the person sitting next to the member for Rockingham. I would like to know how we can go from 1 268 houses being a non-issue to 400 houses, one per cent of the stock, being a massive issue, and absolutely terrible. There are two other things I should point out to the house: firstly, the waiting list is now down to about 22 900. It is still too high but it is almost 2 000 lower than at its peak in November 2010. I hope that downward trend continues. Secondly, as I said, the number of vacant properties awaiting maintenance is 279. I think that is a pretty good outcome. One of the things that reflects is that maintenance of Homeswest properties—admittedly there were some issues with the head contractor model, but I think a lot of those issues are being put to bed — Mr M. McGowan : Were. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Does the member for Rockingham have concerns about maintenance? Mr M. McGowan : Yes. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes; okay. A lot of those issues are being put to bed. I am interested in the member for Rockingham’s issues and concerns with maintenance. I happen to have a copy here of the maintenance log from his former office from just before he moved in—that $600 000 lavish office refit he had done down on the twenty-first floor. I knew it was his when I moved in because it was beige, the same as his personality! I know he is interested in government maintenance, so I will very quickly read from two of the very important maintenance items that he personally requested. Firstly—this is very important—“Member’s shower exhaust suction is too great.” How on earth did he determine that his shower exhaust suction is too great? Was it that he could not read the newspaper or that there was not enough steam building up in the little shower cubicle while he was in there beautifying himself in the morning after he had run in from Rockingham? The second one, I think, takes the cake: “Minister’s shower maintenance.” It says, “Minister’s shower is too dim; Minister is asking for stronger light bulbs and additional lighting to his mirror.” Why would the member for Rockingham want additional lighting on his mirror? “Mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of us all?” I can see it every morning steaming up in the shower; half an hour in front of the mirror! “Put the lights on; let there be light.” Member for Rockingham, I am pleased to report that we have moved on a bit in how we focus on maintenance. Our focus is on getting houses available for tenants, not on getting the exhaust fumes out of our shower and certainly not on putting more light on our reflection as we gaze in wonderment at ourselves in the mirror!
The second issue really sits around vacant properties. There are currently 435 vacant properties awaiting allocation in Western Australia. Of those, 279 are vacant awaiting maintenance. It is important to understand that if someone owns a property portfolio—we have quite a small one of 36 600 dwellings—from time to time a small percentage of those dwellings will be vacant. They will be vacant because people will be moving in or out or some of them will be vacant because they need maintenance. It is an unfortunate fact that, given the nature of some Homeswest tenancies, properties need maintenance when they are vacated. To put it into perspective, member for Rockingham, 435 homes is one per cent of the total housing portfolio. I am not a great property owner; however, I imagine that one per cent of an asset base being vacant at any time is a good outcome. One of the reasons I know it is a good outcome is that I happened to look at the situation in 2007 when someone else was in government. Homeswest had 1 268 vacant properties in Western Australia—1 268. I am interested, because by my recollection the member for Rockingham was a minister at that time. I did not hear him say that was outrageous; I did not hear him say that was unacceptable and a misuse of state assets. In fact, the then minister responsible said, “This is a non-issue.” That was the person sitting next to the member for Rockingham. I would like to know how we can go from 1 268 houses being a non-issue to 400 houses, one per cent of the stock, being a massive issue, and absolutely terrible. There are two other things I should point out to the house: firstly, the waiting list is now down to about 22 900. It is still too high but it is almost 2 000 lower than at its peak in November 2010. I hope that downward trend continues. Secondly, as I said, the number of vacant properties awaiting maintenance is 279. I think that is a pretty good outcome. One of the things that reflects is that maintenance of Homeswest properties—admittedly there were some issues with the head contractor model, but I think a lot of those issues are being put to bed — Mr M. McGowan : Were. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Does the member for Rockingham have concerns about maintenance? Mr M. McGowan : Yes. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes; okay. A lot of those issues are being put to bed. I am interested in the member for Rockingham’s issues and concerns with maintenance. I happen to have a copy here of the maintenance log from his former office from just before he moved in—that $600 000 lavish office refit he had done down on the twenty-first floor. I knew it was his when I moved in because it was beige, the same as his personality! I know he is interested in government maintenance, so I will very quickly read from two of the very important maintenance items that he personally requested. Firstly—this is very important—“Member’s shower exhaust suction is too great.” How on earth did he determine that his shower exhaust suction is too great? Was it that he could not read the newspaper or that there was not enough steam building up in the little shower cubicle while he was in there beautifying himself in the morning after he had run in from Rockingham? The second one, I think, takes the cake: “Minister’s shower maintenance.” It says, “Minister’s shower is too dim; Minister is asking for stronger light bulbs and additional lighting to his mirror.” Why would the member for Rockingham want additional lighting on his mirror? “Mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of us all?” I can see it every morning steaming up in the shower; half an hour in front of the mirror! “Put the lights on; let there be light.” Member for Rockingham, I am pleased to report that we have moved on a bit in how we focus on maintenance. Our focus is on getting houses available for tenants, not on getting the exhaust fumes out of our shower and certainly not on putting more light on our reflection as we gaze in wonderment at ourselves in the mirror!
There are two other things I should point out to the house: firstly, the waiting list is now down to about 22 900. It is still too high but it is almost 2 000 lower than at its peak in November 2010. I hope that downward trend continues. Secondly, as I said, the number of vacant properties awaiting maintenance is 279. I think that is a pretty good outcome. One of the things that reflects is that maintenance of Homeswest properties—admittedly there were some issues with the head contractor model, but I think a lot of those issues are being put to bed — Mr M. McGowan : Were. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Does the member for Rockingham have concerns about maintenance? Mr M. McGowan : Yes. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes; okay. A lot of those issues are being put to bed. I am interested in the member for Rockingham’s issues and concerns with maintenance. I happen to have a copy here of the maintenance log from his former office from just before he moved in—that $600 000 lavish office refit he had done down on the twenty-first floor. I knew it was his when I moved in because it was beige, the same as his personality! I know he is interested in government maintenance, so I will very quickly read from two of the very important maintenance items that he personally requested. Firstly—this is very important—“Member’s shower exhaust suction is too great.” How on earth did he determine that his shower exhaust suction is too great? Was it that he could not read the newspaper or that there was not enough steam building up in the little shower cubicle while he was in there beautifying himself in the morning after he had run in from Rockingham? The second one, I think, takes the cake: “Minister’s shower maintenance.” It says, “Minister’s shower is too dim; Minister is asking for stronger light bulbs and additional lighting to his mirror.” Why would the member for Rockingham want additional lighting on his mirror? “Mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of us all?” I can see it every morning steaming up in the shower; half an hour in front of the mirror! “Put the lights on; let there be light.” Member for Rockingham, I am pleased to report that we have moved on a bit in how we focus on maintenance. Our focus is on getting houses available for tenants, not on getting the exhaust fumes out of our shower and certainly not on putting more light on our reflection as we gaze in wonderment at ourselves in the mirror!
Mr M. McGowan : Were. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Does the member for Rockingham have concerns about maintenance? Mr M. McGowan : Yes. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes; okay. A lot of those issues are being put to bed. I am interested in the member for Rockingham’s issues and concerns with maintenance. I happen to have a copy here of the maintenance log from his former office from just before he moved in—that $600 000 lavish office refit he had done down on the twenty-first floor. I knew it was his when I moved in because it was beige, the same as his personality! I know he is interested in government maintenance, so I will very quickly read from two of the very important maintenance items that he personally requested. Firstly—this is very important—“Member’s shower exhaust suction is too great.” How on earth did he determine that his shower exhaust suction is too great? Was it that he could not read the newspaper or that there was not enough steam building up in the little shower cubicle while he was in there beautifying himself in the morning after he had run in from Rockingham? The second one, I think, takes the cake: “Minister’s shower maintenance.” It says, “Minister’s shower is too dim; Minister is asking for stronger light bulbs and additional lighting to his mirror.” Why would the member for Rockingham want additional lighting on his mirror? “Mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of us all?” I can see it every morning steaming up in the shower; half an hour in front of the mirror! “Put the lights on; let there be light.” Member for Rockingham, I am pleased to report that we have moved on a bit in how we focus on maintenance. Our focus is on getting houses available for tenants, not on getting the exhaust fumes out of our shower and certainly not on putting more light on our reflection as we gaze in wonderment at ourselves in the mirror!
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Does the member for Rockingham have concerns about maintenance? Mr M. McGowan : Yes. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes; okay. A lot of those issues are being put to bed. I am interested in the member for Rockingham’s issues and concerns with maintenance. I happen to have a copy here of the maintenance log from his former office from just before he moved in—that $600 000 lavish office refit he had done down on the twenty-first floor. I knew it was his when I moved in because it was beige, the same as his personality! I know he is interested in government maintenance, so I will very quickly read from two of the very important maintenance items that he personally requested. Firstly—this is very important—“Member’s shower exhaust suction is too great.” How on earth did he determine that his shower exhaust suction is too great? Was it that he could not read the newspaper or that there was not enough steam building up in the little shower cubicle while he was in there beautifying himself in the morning after he had run in from Rockingham? The second one, I think, takes the cake: “Minister’s shower maintenance.” It says, “Minister’s shower is too dim; Minister is asking for stronger light bulbs and additional lighting to his mirror.” Why would the member for Rockingham want additional lighting on his mirror? “Mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of us all?” I can see it every morning steaming up in the shower; half an hour in front of the mirror! “Put the lights on; let there be light.” Member for Rockingham, I am pleased to report that we have moved on a bit in how we focus on maintenance. Our focus is on getting houses available for tenants, not on getting the exhaust fumes out of our shower and certainly not on putting more light on our reflection as we gaze in wonderment at ourselves in the mirror!
Mr M. McGowan : Yes. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes; okay. A lot of those issues are being put to bed. I am interested in the member for Rockingham’s issues and concerns with maintenance. I happen to have a copy here of the maintenance log from his former office from just before he moved in—that $600 000 lavish office refit he had done down on the twenty-first floor. I knew it was his when I moved in because it was beige, the same as his personality! I know he is interested in government maintenance, so I will very quickly read from two of the very important maintenance items that he personally requested. Firstly—this is very important—“Member’s shower exhaust suction is too great.” How on earth did he determine that his shower exhaust suction is too great? Was it that he could not read the newspaper or that there was not enough steam building up in the little shower cubicle while he was in there beautifying himself in the morning after he had run in from Rockingham? The second one, I think, takes the cake: “Minister’s shower maintenance.” It says, “Minister’s shower is too dim; Minister is asking for stronger light bulbs and additional lighting to his mirror.” Why would the member for Rockingham want additional lighting on his mirror? “Mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of us all?” I can see it every morning steaming up in the shower; half an hour in front of the mirror! “Put the lights on; let there be light.” Member for Rockingham, I am pleased to report that we have moved on a bit in how we focus on maintenance. Our focus is on getting houses available for tenants, not on getting the exhaust fumes out of our shower and certainly not on putting more light on our reflection as we gaze in wonderment at ourselves in the mirror!
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes; okay. A lot of those issues are being put to bed. I am interested in the member for Rockingham’s issues and concerns with maintenance. I happen to have a copy here of the maintenance log from his former office from just before he moved in—that $600 000 lavish office refit he had done down on the twenty-first floor. I knew it was his when I moved in because it was beige, the same as his personality! I know he is interested in government maintenance, so I will very quickly read from two of the very important maintenance items that he personally requested. Firstly—this is very important—“Member’s shower exhaust suction is too great.” How on earth did he determine that his shower exhaust suction is too great? Was it that he could not read the newspaper or that there was not enough steam building up in the little shower cubicle while he was in there beautifying himself in the morning after he had run in from Rockingham? The second one, I think, takes the cake: “Minister’s shower maintenance.” It says, “Minister’s shower is too dim; Minister is asking for stronger light bulbs and additional lighting to his mirror.” Why would the member for Rockingham want additional lighting on his mirror? “Mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of us all?” I can see it every morning steaming up in the shower; half an hour in front of the mirror! “Put the lights on; let there be light.” Member for Rockingham, I am pleased to report that we have moved on a bit in how we focus on maintenance. Our focus is on getting houses available for tenants, not on getting the exhaust fumes out of our shower and certainly not on putting more light on our reflection as we gaze in wonderment at ourselves in the mirror!
The second one, I think, takes the cake: “Minister’s shower maintenance.” It says, “Minister’s shower is too dim; Minister is asking for stronger light bulbs and additional lighting to his mirror.” Why would the member for Rockingham want additional lighting on his mirror? “Mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of us all?” I can see it every morning steaming up in the shower; half an hour in front of the mirror! “Put the lights on; let there be light.” Member for Rockingham, I am pleased to report that we have moved on a bit in how we focus on maintenance. Our focus is on getting houses available for tenants, not on getting the exhaust fumes out of our shower and certainly not on putting more light on our reflection as we gaze in wonderment at ourselves in the mirror!
Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: Yes. I would like to thank the member for the question. I did notice the article in The West last week, headed “Thousands wait while 400 homes sit vacant”. I noticed the criticism from the shadow housing minister, the member for Rockingham, about the number of vacant properties and, indirectly, about our high-value housing strategy. This is probably a good opportunity to update the house on the high-value housing strategy which was introduced in 2009 and which was designed to enable us to sell high-value houses. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes, we are aware of some of the member for Rockingham’s antics in relation to houses and maintenance, but we will deal with that in a second. Let me tell the house what the strategy does. We sell houses that are of a high value. That gives us money, and we buy more houses in better value-for-money suburbs. As at 30 June this year we had sold 24. One has been sold and is awaiting settlement, three are on the market and five have been prepared for sale. The suburbs include Cottesloe, Mosman Park, Mt Claremont, Manning, Doubleview, Karrinyup et cetera. The sale of those properties has generated $22.8 million. That has enabled us to purchase, either through spot purchase or through construction, 81 new dwellings, and it is delivering exactly what we said it would deliver when we introduced it back in 2009. The second issue really sits around vacant properties. There are currently 435 vacant properties awaiting allocation in Western Australia. Of those, 279 are vacant awaiting maintenance. It is important to understand that if someone owns a property portfolio—we have quite a small one of 36 600 dwellings—from time to time a small percentage of those dwellings will be vacant. They will be vacant because people will be moving in or out or some of them will be vacant because they need maintenance. It is an unfortunate fact that, given the nature of some Homeswest tenancies, properties need maintenance when they are vacated. To put it into perspective, member for Rockingham, 435 homes is one per cent of the total housing portfolio. I am not a great property owner; however, I imagine that one per cent of an asset base being vacant at any time is a good outcome. One of the reasons I know it is a good outcome is that I happened to look at the situation in 2007 when someone else was in government. Homeswest had 1 268 vacant properties in Western Australia—1 268. I am interested, because by my recollection the member for Rockingham was a minister at that time. I did not hear him say that was outrageous; I did not hear him say that was unacceptable and a misuse of state assets. In fact, the then minister responsible said, “This is a non-issue.” That was the person sitting next to the member for Rockingham. I would like to know how we can go from 1 268 houses being a non-issue to 400 houses, one per cent of the stock, being a massive issue, and absolutely terrible. There are two other things I should point out to the house: firstly, the waiting list is now down to about 22 900. It is still too high but it is almost 2 000 lower than at its peak in November 2010. I hope that downward trend continues. Secondly, as I said, the number of vacant properties awaiting maintenance is 279. I think that is a pretty good outcome. One of the things that reflects is that maintenance of Homeswest properties—admittedly there were some issues with the head contractor model, but I think a lot of those issues are being put to bed — Mr M. McGowan : Were. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Does the member for Rockingham have concerns about maintenance? Mr M. McGowan : Yes. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes; okay. A lot of those issues are being put to bed. I am interested in the member for Rockingham’s issues and concerns with maintenance. I happen to have a copy here of the maintenance log from his former office from just before he moved in—that $600 000 lavish office refit he had done down on the twenty-first floor. I knew it was his when I moved in because it was beige, the same as his personality! I know he is interested in government maintenance, so I will very quickly read from two of the very important maintenance items that he personally requested. Firstly—this is very important—“Member’s shower exhaust suction is too great.” How on earth did he determine that his shower exhaust suction is too great? Was it that he could not read the newspaper or that there was not enough steam building up in the little shower cubicle while he was in there beautifying himself in the morning after he had run in from Rockingham? The second one, I think, takes the cake: “Minister’s shower maintenance.” It says, “Minister’s shower is too dim; Minister is asking for stronger light bulbs and additional lighting to his mirror.” Why would the member for Rockingham want additional lighting on his mirror? “Mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of us all?” I can see it every morning steaming up in the shower; half an hour in front of the mirror! “Put the lights on; let there be light.” Member for Rockingham, I am pleased to report that we have moved on a bit in how we focus on maintenance. Our focus is on getting houses available for tenants, not on getting the exhaust fumes out of our shower and certainly not on putting more light on our reflection as we gaze in wonderment at ourselves in the mirror!
Yes. I would like to thank the member for the question. I did notice the article in The West last week, headed “Thousands wait while 400 homes sit vacant”. I noticed the criticism from the shadow housing minister, the member for Rockingham, about the number of vacant properties and, indirectly, about our high-value housing strategy. This is probably a good opportunity to update the house on the high-value housing strategy which was introduced in 2009 and which was designed to enable us to sell high-value houses. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes, we are aware of some of the member for Rockingham’s antics in relation to houses and maintenance, but we will deal with that in a second. Let me tell the house what the strategy does. We sell houses that are of a high value. That gives us money, and we buy more houses in better value-for-money suburbs. As at 30 June this year we had sold 24. One has been sold and is awaiting settlement, three are on the market and five have been prepared for sale. The suburbs include Cottesloe, Mosman Park, Mt Claremont, Manning, Doubleview, Karrinyup et cetera. The sale of those properties has generated $22.8 million. That has enabled us to purchase, either through spot purchase or through construction, 81 new dwellings, and it is delivering exactly what we said it would deliver when we introduced it back in 2009. The second issue really sits around vacant properties. There are currently 435 vacant properties awaiting allocation in Western Australia. Of those, 279 are vacant awaiting maintenance. It is important to understand that if someone owns a property portfolio—we have quite a small one of 36 600 dwellings—from time to time a small percentage of those dwellings will be vacant. They will be vacant because people will be moving in or out or some of them will be vacant because they need maintenance. It is an unfortunate fact that, given the nature of some Homeswest tenancies, properties need maintenance when they are vacated. To put it into perspective, member for Rockingham, 435 homes is one per cent of the total housing portfolio. I am not a great property owner; however, I imagine that one per cent of an asset base being vacant at any time is a good outcome. One of the reasons I know it is a good outcome is that I happened to look at the situation in 2007 when someone else was in government. Homeswest had 1 268 vacant properties in Western Australia—1 268. I am interested, because by my recollection the member for Rockingham was a minister at that time. I did not hear him say that was outrageous; I did not hear him say that was unacceptable and a misuse of state assets. In fact, the then minister responsible said, “This is a non-issue.” That was the person sitting next to the member for Rockingham. I would like to know how we can go from 1 268 houses being a non-issue to 400 houses, one per cent of the stock, being a massive issue, and absolutely terrible. There are two other things I should point out to the house: firstly, the waiting list is now down to about 22 900. It is still too high but it is almost 2 000 lower than at its peak in November 2010. I hope that downward trend continues. Secondly, as I said, the number of vacant properties awaiting maintenance is 279. I think that is a pretty good outcome. One of the things that reflects is that maintenance of Homeswest properties—admittedly there were some issues with the head contractor model, but I think a lot of those issues are being put to bed — Mr M. McGowan : Were. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Does the member for Rockingham have concerns about maintenance? Mr M. McGowan : Yes. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes; okay. A lot of those issues are being put to bed. I am interested in the member for Rockingham’s issues and concerns with maintenance. I happen to have a copy here of the maintenance log from his former office from just before he moved in—that $600 000 lavish office refit he had done down on the twenty-first floor. I knew it was his when I moved in because it was beige, the same as his personality! I know he is interested in government maintenance, so I will very quickly read from two of the very important maintenance items that he personally requested. Firstly—this is very important—“Member’s shower exhaust suction is too great.” How on earth did he determine that his shower exhaust suction is too great? Was it that he could not read the newspaper or that there was not enough steam building up in the little shower cubicle while he was in there beautifying himself in the morning after he had run in from Rockingham? The second one, I think, takes the cake: “Minister’s shower maintenance.” It says, “Minister’s shower is too dim; Minister is asking for stronger light bulbs and additional lighting to his mirror.” Why would the member for Rockingham want additional lighting on his mirror? “Mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of us all?” I can see it every morning steaming up in the shower; half an hour in front of the mirror! “Put the lights on; let there be light.” Member for Rockingham, I am pleased to report that we have moved on a bit in how we focus on maintenance. Our focus is on getting houses available for tenants, not on getting the exhaust fumes out of our shower and certainly not on putting more light on our reflection as we gaze in wonderment at ourselves in the mirror!
Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes, we are aware of some of the member for Rockingham’s antics in relation to houses and maintenance, but we will deal with that in a second. Let me tell the house what the strategy does. We sell houses that are of a high value. That gives us money, and we buy more houses in better value-for-money suburbs. As at 30 June this year we had sold 24. One has been sold and is awaiting settlement, three are on the market and five have been prepared for sale. The suburbs include Cottesloe, Mosman Park, Mt Claremont, Manning, Doubleview, Karrinyup et cetera. The sale of those properties has generated $22.8 million. That has enabled us to purchase, either through spot purchase or through construction, 81 new dwellings, and it is delivering exactly what we said it would deliver when we introduced it back in 2009. The second issue really sits around vacant properties. There are currently 435 vacant properties awaiting allocation in Western Australia. Of those, 279 are vacant awaiting maintenance. It is important to understand that if someone owns a property portfolio—we have quite a small one of 36 600 dwellings—from time to time a small percentage of those dwellings will be vacant. They will be vacant because people will be moving in or out or some of them will be vacant because they need maintenance. It is an unfortunate fact that, given the nature of some Homeswest tenancies, properties need maintenance when they are vacated. To put it into perspective, member for Rockingham, 435 homes is one per cent of the total housing portfolio. I am not a great property owner; however, I imagine that one per cent of an asset base being vacant at any time is a good outcome. One of the reasons I know it is a good outcome is that I happened to look at the situation in 2007 when someone else was in government. Homeswest had 1 268 vacant properties in Western Australia—1 268. I am interested, because by my recollection the member for Rockingham was a minister at that time. I did not hear him say that was outrageous; I did not hear him say that was unacceptable and a misuse of state assets. In fact, the then minister responsible said, “This is a non-issue.” That was the person sitting next to the member for Rockingham. I would like to know how we can go from 1 268 houses being a non-issue to 400 houses, one per cent of the stock, being a massive issue, and absolutely terrible. There are two other things I should point out to the house: firstly, the waiting list is now down to about 22 900. It is still too high but it is almost 2 000 lower than at its peak in November 2010. I hope that downward trend continues. Secondly, as I said, the number of vacant properties awaiting maintenance is 279. I think that is a pretty good outcome. One of the things that reflects is that maintenance of Homeswest properties—admittedly there were some issues with the head contractor model, but I think a lot of those issues are being put to bed — Mr M. McGowan : Were. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Does the member for Rockingham have concerns about maintenance? Mr M. McGowan : Yes. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes; okay. A lot of those issues are being put to bed. I am interested in the member for Rockingham’s issues and concerns with maintenance. I happen to have a copy here of the maintenance log from his former office from just before he moved in—that $600 000 lavish office refit he had done down on the twenty-first floor. I knew it was his when I moved in because it was beige, the same as his personality! I know he is interested in government maintenance, so I will very quickly read from two of the very important maintenance items that he personally requested. Firstly—this is very important—“Member’s shower exhaust suction is too great.” How on earth did he determine that his shower exhaust suction is too great? Was it that he could not read the newspaper or that there was not enough steam building up in the little shower cubicle while he was in there beautifying himself in the morning after he had run in from Rockingham? The second one, I think, takes the cake: “Minister’s shower maintenance.” It says, “Minister’s shower is too dim; Minister is asking for stronger light bulbs and additional lighting to his mirror.” Why would the member for Rockingham want additional lighting on his mirror? “Mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of us all?” I can see it every morning steaming up in the shower; half an hour in front of the mirror! “Put the lights on; let there be light.” Member for Rockingham, I am pleased to report that we have moved on a bit in how we focus on maintenance. Our focus is on getting houses available for tenants, not on getting the exhaust fumes out of our shower and certainly not on putting more light on our reflection as we gaze in wonderment at ourselves in the mirror!
The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes, we are aware of some of the member for Rockingham’s antics in relation to houses and maintenance, but we will deal with that in a second. Let me tell the house what the strategy does. We sell houses that are of a high value. That gives us money, and we buy more houses in better value-for-money suburbs. As at 30 June this year we had sold 24. One has been sold and is awaiting settlement, three are on the market and five have been prepared for sale. The suburbs include Cottesloe, Mosman Park, Mt Claremont, Manning, Doubleview, Karrinyup et cetera. The sale of those properties has generated $22.8 million. That has enabled us to purchase, either through spot purchase or through construction, 81 new dwellings, and it is delivering exactly what we said it would deliver when we introduced it back in 2009. The second issue really sits around vacant properties. There are currently 435 vacant properties awaiting allocation in Western Australia. Of those, 279 are vacant awaiting maintenance. It is important to understand that if someone owns a property portfolio—we have quite a small one of 36 600 dwellings—from time to time a small percentage of those dwellings will be vacant. They will be vacant because people will be moving in or out or some of them will be vacant because they need maintenance. It is an unfortunate fact that, given the nature of some Homeswest tenancies, properties need maintenance when they are vacated. To put it into perspective, member for Rockingham, 435 homes is one per cent of the total housing portfolio. I am not a great property owner; however, I imagine that one per cent of an asset base being vacant at any time is a good outcome. One of the reasons I know it is a good outcome is that I happened to look at the situation in 2007 when someone else was in government. Homeswest had 1 268 vacant properties in Western Australia—1 268. I am interested, because by my recollection the member for Rockingham was a minister at that time. I did not hear him say that was outrageous; I did not hear him say that was unacceptable and a misuse of state assets. In fact, the then minister responsible said, “This is a non-issue.” That was the person sitting next to the member for Rockingham. I would like to know how we can go from 1 268 houses being a non-issue to 400 houses, one per cent of the stock, being a massive issue, and absolutely terrible. There are two other things I should point out to the house: firstly, the waiting list is now down to about 22 900. It is still too high but it is almost 2 000 lower than at its peak in November 2010. I hope that downward trend continues. Secondly, as I said, the number of vacant properties awaiting maintenance is 279. I think that is a pretty good outcome. One of the things that reflects is that maintenance of Homeswest properties—admittedly there were some issues with the head contractor model, but I think a lot of those issues are being put to bed — Mr M. McGowan : Were. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Does the member for Rockingham have concerns about maintenance? Mr M. McGowan : Yes. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes; okay. A lot of those issues are being put to bed. I am interested in the member for Rockingham’s issues and concerns with maintenance. I happen to have a copy here of the maintenance log from his former office from just before he moved in—that $600 000 lavish office refit he had done down on the twenty-first floor. I knew it was his when I moved in because it was beige, the same as his personality! I know he is interested in government maintenance, so I will very quickly read from two of the very important maintenance items that he personally requested. Firstly—this is very important—“Member’s shower exhaust suction is too great.” How on earth did he determine that his shower exhaust suction is too great? Was it that he could not read the newspaper or that there was not enough steam building up in the little shower cubicle while he was in there beautifying himself in the morning after he had run in from Rockingham? The second one, I think, takes the cake: “Minister’s shower maintenance.” It says, “Minister’s shower is too dim; Minister is asking for stronger light bulbs and additional lighting to his mirror.” Why would the member for Rockingham want additional lighting on his mirror? “Mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of us all?” I can see it every morning steaming up in the shower; half an hour in front of the mirror! “Put the lights on; let there be light.” Member for Rockingham, I am pleased to report that we have moved on a bit in how we focus on maintenance. Our focus is on getting houses available for tenants, not on getting the exhaust fumes out of our shower and certainly not on putting more light on our reflection as we gaze in wonderment at ourselves in the mirror!
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes, we are aware of some of the member for Rockingham’s antics in relation to houses and maintenance, but we will deal with that in a second. Let me tell the house what the strategy does. We sell houses that are of a high value. That gives us money, and we buy more houses in better value-for-money suburbs. As at 30 June this year we had sold 24. One has been sold and is awaiting settlement, three are on the market and five have been prepared for sale. The suburbs include Cottesloe, Mosman Park, Mt Claremont, Manning, Doubleview, Karrinyup et cetera. The sale of those properties has generated $22.8 million. That has enabled us to purchase, either through spot purchase or through construction, 81 new dwellings, and it is delivering exactly what we said it would deliver when we introduced it back in 2009. The second issue really sits around vacant properties. There are currently 435 vacant properties awaiting allocation in Western Australia. Of those, 279 are vacant awaiting maintenance. It is important to understand that if someone owns a property portfolio—we have quite a small one of 36 600 dwellings—from time to time a small percentage of those dwellings will be vacant. They will be vacant because people will be moving in or out or some of them will be vacant because they need maintenance. It is an unfortunate fact that, given the nature of some Homeswest tenancies, properties need maintenance when they are vacated. To put it into perspective, member for Rockingham, 435 homes is one per cent of the total housing portfolio. I am not a great property owner; however, I imagine that one per cent of an asset base being vacant at any time is a good outcome. One of the reasons I know it is a good outcome is that I happened to look at the situation in 2007 when someone else was in government. Homeswest had 1 268 vacant properties in Western Australia—1 268. I am interested, because by my recollection the member for Rockingham was a minister at that time. I did not hear him say that was outrageous; I did not hear him say that was unacceptable and a misuse of state assets. In fact, the then minister responsible said, “This is a non-issue.” That was the person sitting next to the member for Rockingham. I would like to know how we can go from 1 268 houses being a non-issue to 400 houses, one per cent of the stock, being a massive issue, and absolutely terrible. There are two other things I should point out to the house: firstly, the waiting list is now down to about 22 900. It is still too high but it is almost 2 000 lower than at its peak in November 2010. I hope that downward trend continues. Secondly, as I said, the number of vacant properties awaiting maintenance is 279. I think that is a pretty good outcome. One of the things that reflects is that maintenance of Homeswest properties—admittedly there were some issues with the head contractor model, but I think a lot of those issues are being put to bed — Mr M. McGowan : Were. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Does the member for Rockingham have concerns about maintenance? Mr M. McGowan : Yes. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes; okay. A lot of those issues are being put to bed. I am interested in the member for Rockingham’s issues and concerns with maintenance. I happen to have a copy here of the maintenance log from his former office from just before he moved in—that $600 000 lavish office refit he had done down on the twenty-first floor. I knew it was his when I moved in because it was beige, the same as his personality! I know he is interested in government maintenance, so I will very quickly read from two of the very important maintenance items that he personally requested. Firstly—this is very important—“Member’s shower exhaust suction is too great.” How on earth did he determine that his shower exhaust suction is too great? Was it that he could not read the newspaper or that there was not enough steam building up in the little shower cubicle while he was in there beautifying himself in the morning after he had run in from Rockingham? The second one, I think, takes the cake: “Minister’s shower maintenance.” It says, “Minister’s shower is too dim; Minister is asking for stronger light bulbs and additional lighting to his mirror.” Why would the member for Rockingham want additional lighting on his mirror? “Mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of us all?” I can see it every morning steaming up in the shower; half an hour in front of the mirror! “Put the lights on; let there be light.” Member for Rockingham, I am pleased to report that we have moved on a bit in how we focus on maintenance. Our focus is on getting houses available for tenants, not on getting the exhaust fumes out of our shower and certainly not on putting more light on our reflection as we gaze in wonderment at ourselves in the mirror!
Let me tell the house what the strategy does. We sell houses that are of a high value. That gives us money, and we buy more houses in better value-for-money suburbs. As at 30 June this year we had sold 24. One has been sold and is awaiting settlement, three are on the market and five have been prepared for sale. The suburbs include Cottesloe, Mosman Park, Mt Claremont, Manning, Doubleview, Karrinyup et cetera. The sale of those properties has generated $22.8 million. That has enabled us to purchase, either through spot purchase or through construction, 81 new dwellings, and it is delivering exactly what we said it would deliver when we introduced it back in 2009. The second issue really sits around vacant properties. There are currently 435 vacant properties awaiting allocation in Western Australia. Of those, 279 are vacant awaiting maintenance. It is important to understand that if someone owns a property portfolio—we have quite a small one of 36 600 dwellings—from time to time a small percentage of those dwellings will be vacant. They will be vacant because people will be moving in or out or some of them will be vacant because they need maintenance. It is an unfortunate fact that, given the nature of some Homeswest tenancies, properties need maintenance when they are vacated. To put it into perspective, member for Rockingham, 435 homes is one per cent of the total housing portfolio. I am not a great property owner; however, I imagine that one per cent of an asset base being vacant at any time is a good outcome. One of the reasons I know it is a good outcome is that I happened to look at the situation in 2007 when someone else was in government. Homeswest had 1 268 vacant properties in Western Australia—1 268. I am interested, because by my recollection the member for Rockingham was a minister at that time. I did not hear him say that was outrageous; I did not hear him say that was unacceptable and a misuse of state assets. In fact, the then minister responsible said, “This is a non-issue.” That was the person sitting next to the member for Rockingham. I would like to know how we can go from 1 268 houses being a non-issue to 400 houses, one per cent of the stock, being a massive issue, and absolutely terrible. There are two other things I should point out to the house: firstly, the waiting list is now down to about 22 900. It is still too high but it is almost 2 000 lower than at its peak in November 2010. I hope that downward trend continues. Secondly, as I said, the number of vacant properties awaiting maintenance is 279. I think that is a pretty good outcome. One of the things that reflects is that maintenance of Homeswest properties—admittedly there were some issues with the head contractor model, but I think a lot of those issues are being put to bed — Mr M. McGowan : Were. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Does the member for Rockingham have concerns about maintenance? Mr M. McGowan : Yes. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes; okay. A lot of those issues are being put to bed. I am interested in the member for Rockingham’s issues and concerns with maintenance. I happen to have a copy here of the maintenance log from his former office from just before he moved in—that $600 000 lavish office refit he had done down on the twenty-first floor. I knew it was his when I moved in because it was beige, the same as his personality! I know he is interested in government maintenance, so I will very quickly read from two of the very important maintenance items that he personally requested. Firstly—this is very important—“Member’s shower exhaust suction is too great.” How on earth did he determine that his shower exhaust suction is too great? Was it that he could not read the newspaper or that there was not enough steam building up in the little shower cubicle while he was in there beautifying himself in the morning after he had run in from Rockingham? The second one, I think, takes the cake: “Minister’s shower maintenance.” It says, “Minister’s shower is too dim; Minister is asking for stronger light bulbs and additional lighting to his mirror.” Why would the member for Rockingham want additional lighting on his mirror? “Mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of us all?” I can see it every morning steaming up in the shower; half an hour in front of the mirror! “Put the lights on; let there be light.” Member for Rockingham, I am pleased to report that we have moved on a bit in how we focus on maintenance. Our focus is on getting houses available for tenants, not on getting the exhaust fumes out of our shower and certainly not on putting more light on our reflection as we gaze in wonderment at ourselves in the mirror!
The second issue really sits around vacant properties. There are currently 435 vacant properties awaiting allocation in Western Australia. Of those, 279 are vacant awaiting maintenance. It is important to understand that if someone owns a property portfolio—we have quite a small one of 36 600 dwellings—from time to time a small percentage of those dwellings will be vacant. They will be vacant because people will be moving in or out or some of them will be vacant because they need maintenance. It is an unfortunate fact that, given the nature of some Homeswest tenancies, properties need maintenance when they are vacated. To put it into perspective, member for Rockingham, 435 homes is one per cent of the total housing portfolio. I am not a great property owner; however, I imagine that one per cent of an asset base being vacant at any time is a good outcome. One of the reasons I know it is a good outcome is that I happened to look at the situation in 2007 when someone else was in government. Homeswest had 1 268 vacant properties in Western Australia—1 268. I am interested, because by my recollection the member for Rockingham was a minister at that time. I did not hear him say that was outrageous; I did not hear him say that was unacceptable and a misuse of state assets. In fact, the then minister responsible said, “This is a non-issue.” That was the person sitting next to the member for Rockingham. I would like to know how we can go from 1 268 houses being a non-issue to 400 houses, one per cent of the stock, being a massive issue, and absolutely terrible. There are two other things I should point out to the house: firstly, the waiting list is now down to about 22 900. It is still too high but it is almost 2 000 lower than at its peak in November 2010. I hope that downward trend continues. Secondly, as I said, the number of vacant properties awaiting maintenance is 279. I think that is a pretty good outcome. One of the things that reflects is that maintenance of Homeswest properties—admittedly there were some issues with the head contractor model, but I think a lot of those issues are being put to bed — Mr M. McGowan : Were. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Does the member for Rockingham have concerns about maintenance? Mr M. McGowan : Yes. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes; okay. A lot of those issues are being put to bed. I am interested in the member for Rockingham’s issues and concerns with maintenance. I happen to have a copy here of the maintenance log from his former office from just before he moved in—that $600 000 lavish office refit he had done down on the twenty-first floor. I knew it was his when I moved in because it was beige, the same as his personality! I know he is interested in government maintenance, so I will very quickly read from two of the very important maintenance items that he personally requested. Firstly—this is very important—“Member’s shower exhaust suction is too great.” How on earth did he determine that his shower exhaust suction is too great? Was it that he could not read the newspaper or that there was not enough steam building up in the little shower cubicle while he was in there beautifying himself in the morning after he had run in from Rockingham? The second one, I think, takes the cake: “Minister’s shower maintenance.” It says, “Minister’s shower is too dim; Minister is asking for stronger light bulbs and additional lighting to his mirror.” Why would the member for Rockingham want additional lighting on his mirror? “Mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of us all?” I can see it every morning steaming up in the shower; half an hour in front of the mirror! “Put the lights on; let there be light.” Member for Rockingham, I am pleased to report that we have moved on a bit in how we focus on maintenance. Our focus is on getting houses available for tenants, not on getting the exhaust fumes out of our shower and certainly not on putting more light on our reflection as we gaze in wonderment at ourselves in the mirror!
There are two other things I should point out to the house: firstly, the waiting list is now down to about 22 900. It is still too high but it is almost 2 000 lower than at its peak in November 2010. I hope that downward trend continues. Secondly, as I said, the number of vacant properties awaiting maintenance is 279. I think that is a pretty good outcome. One of the things that reflects is that maintenance of Homeswest properties—admittedly there were some issues with the head contractor model, but I think a lot of those issues are being put to bed — Mr M. McGowan : Were. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Does the member for Rockingham have concerns about maintenance? Mr M. McGowan : Yes. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes; okay. A lot of those issues are being put to bed. I am interested in the member for Rockingham’s issues and concerns with maintenance. I happen to have a copy here of the maintenance log from his former office from just before he moved in—that $600 000 lavish office refit he had done down on the twenty-first floor. I knew it was his when I moved in because it was beige, the same as his personality! I know he is interested in government maintenance, so I will very quickly read from two of the very important maintenance items that he personally requested. Firstly—this is very important—“Member’s shower exhaust suction is too great.” How on earth did he determine that his shower exhaust suction is too great? Was it that he could not read the newspaper or that there was not enough steam building up in the little shower cubicle while he was in there beautifying himself in the morning after he had run in from Rockingham? The second one, I think, takes the cake: “Minister’s shower maintenance.” It says, “Minister’s shower is too dim; Minister is asking for stronger light bulbs and additional lighting to his mirror.” Why would the member for Rockingham want additional lighting on his mirror? “Mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of us all?” I can see it every morning steaming up in the shower; half an hour in front of the mirror! “Put the lights on; let there be light.” Member for Rockingham, I am pleased to report that we have moved on a bit in how we focus on maintenance. Our focus is on getting houses available for tenants, not on getting the exhaust fumes out of our shower and certainly not on putting more light on our reflection as we gaze in wonderment at ourselves in the mirror!
Mr M. McGowan : Were. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Does the member for Rockingham have concerns about maintenance? Mr M. McGowan : Yes. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes; okay. A lot of those issues are being put to bed. I am interested in the member for Rockingham’s issues and concerns with maintenance. I happen to have a copy here of the maintenance log from his former office from just before he moved in—that $600 000 lavish office refit he had done down on the twenty-first floor. I knew it was his when I moved in because it was beige, the same as his personality! I know he is interested in government maintenance, so I will very quickly read from two of the very important maintenance items that he personally requested. Firstly—this is very important—“Member’s shower exhaust suction is too great.” How on earth did he determine that his shower exhaust suction is too great? Was it that he could not read the newspaper or that there was not enough steam building up in the little shower cubicle while he was in there beautifying himself in the morning after he had run in from Rockingham? The second one, I think, takes the cake: “Minister’s shower maintenance.” It says, “Minister’s shower is too dim; Minister is asking for stronger light bulbs and additional lighting to his mirror.” Why would the member for Rockingham want additional lighting on his mirror? “Mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of us all?” I can see it every morning steaming up in the shower; half an hour in front of the mirror! “Put the lights on; let there be light.” Member for Rockingham, I am pleased to report that we have moved on a bit in how we focus on maintenance. Our focus is on getting houses available for tenants, not on getting the exhaust fumes out of our shower and certainly not on putting more light on our reflection as we gaze in wonderment at ourselves in the mirror!
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Does the member for Rockingham have concerns about maintenance? Mr M. McGowan : Yes. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes; okay. A lot of those issues are being put to bed. I am interested in the member for Rockingham’s issues and concerns with maintenance. I happen to have a copy here of the maintenance log from his former office from just before he moved in—that $600 000 lavish office refit he had done down on the twenty-first floor. I knew it was his when I moved in because it was beige, the same as his personality! I know he is interested in government maintenance, so I will very quickly read from two of the very important maintenance items that he personally requested. Firstly—this is very important—“Member’s shower exhaust suction is too great.” How on earth did he determine that his shower exhaust suction is too great? Was it that he could not read the newspaper or that there was not enough steam building up in the little shower cubicle while he was in there beautifying himself in the morning after he had run in from Rockingham? The second one, I think, takes the cake: “Minister’s shower maintenance.” It says, “Minister’s shower is too dim; Minister is asking for stronger light bulbs and additional lighting to his mirror.” Why would the member for Rockingham want additional lighting on his mirror? “Mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of us all?” I can see it every morning steaming up in the shower; half an hour in front of the mirror! “Put the lights on; let there be light.” Member for Rockingham, I am pleased to report that we have moved on a bit in how we focus on maintenance. Our focus is on getting houses available for tenants, not on getting the exhaust fumes out of our shower and certainly not on putting more light on our reflection as we gaze in wonderment at ourselves in the mirror!
Mr M. McGowan : Yes. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes; okay. A lot of those issues are being put to bed. I am interested in the member for Rockingham’s issues and concerns with maintenance. I happen to have a copy here of the maintenance log from his former office from just before he moved in—that $600 000 lavish office refit he had done down on the twenty-first floor. I knew it was his when I moved in because it was beige, the same as his personality! I know he is interested in government maintenance, so I will very quickly read from two of the very important maintenance items that he personally requested. Firstly—this is very important—“Member’s shower exhaust suction is too great.” How on earth did he determine that his shower exhaust suction is too great? Was it that he could not read the newspaper or that there was not enough steam building up in the little shower cubicle while he was in there beautifying himself in the morning after he had run in from Rockingham? The second one, I think, takes the cake: “Minister’s shower maintenance.” It says, “Minister’s shower is too dim; Minister is asking for stronger light bulbs and additional lighting to his mirror.” Why would the member for Rockingham want additional lighting on his mirror? “Mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of us all?” I can see it every morning steaming up in the shower; half an hour in front of the mirror! “Put the lights on; let there be light.” Member for Rockingham, I am pleased to report that we have moved on a bit in how we focus on maintenance. Our focus is on getting houses available for tenants, not on getting the exhaust fumes out of our shower and certainly not on putting more light on our reflection as we gaze in wonderment at ourselves in the mirror!
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Yes; okay. A lot of those issues are being put to bed. I am interested in the member for Rockingham’s issues and concerns with maintenance. I happen to have a copy here of the maintenance log from his former office from just before he moved in—that $600 000 lavish office refit he had done down on the twenty-first floor. I knew it was his when I moved in because it was beige, the same as his personality! I know he is interested in government maintenance, so I will very quickly read from two of the very important maintenance items that he personally requested. Firstly—this is very important—“Member’s shower exhaust suction is too great.” How on earth did he determine that his shower exhaust suction is too great? Was it that he could not read the newspaper or that there was not enough steam building up in the little shower cubicle while he was in there beautifying himself in the morning after he had run in from Rockingham? The second one, I think, takes the cake: “Minister’s shower maintenance.” It says, “Minister’s shower is too dim; Minister is asking for stronger light bulbs and additional lighting to his mirror.” Why would the member for Rockingham want additional lighting on his mirror? “Mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of us all?” I can see it every morning steaming up in the shower; half an hour in front of the mirror! “Put the lights on; let there be light.” Member for Rockingham, I am pleased to report that we have moved on a bit in how we focus on maintenance. Our focus is on getting houses available for tenants, not on getting the exhaust fumes out of our shower and certainly not on putting more light on our reflection as we gaze in wonderment at ourselves in the mirror!
The second one, I think, takes the cake: “Minister’s shower maintenance.” It says, “Minister’s shower is too dim; Minister is asking for stronger light bulbs and additional lighting to his mirror.” Why would the member for Rockingham want additional lighting on his mirror? “Mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of us all?” I can see it every morning steaming up in the shower; half an hour in front of the mirror! “Put the lights on; let there be light.” Member for Rockingham, I am pleased to report that we have moved on a bit in how we focus on maintenance. Our focus is on getting houses available for tenants, not on getting the exhaust fumes out of our shower and certainly not on putting more light on our reflection as we gaze in wonderment at ourselves in the mirror!
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