❓ Hon Steve Martin's question regarding WA social housing stock numbers by region and date receives a partial answer, citing system changes and focusing on overall stock numbers. The response also includes commentary on past government mismanagement and current investment.
AnsweredQoN 1744Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Can the Minister please provide the number of total stock of community houses, public houses, and total social homes, by region in Western Australia, for the following dates as at June 30: (a) 2017; (b) 2018; (c) 2019; (d) 2020; (e) 2021; (f) 2022; and (g) 2023? (2) Can the Minister please provide the figures asked for in (1), as of 9 November 2023?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 March 2024
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food representing the Minister for Housing
Response time
11 days
The State Government is investing a record $2.6 billion in social housing and homelessness measures in WA, including delivery of around 4,000 social dwellings, and refurbishments and maintenance work to many thousands more.
Since our record investment, the State Government has added more than 1,900 social homes with a further 1,000 social homes currently under contract or construction. Some of these properties may not be reflected in this data as it often takes time to be transferred wholly into the Department of Communities systems across regional offices.
The State Government has inherited ageing and inappropriate housing stock that had not been maintained, refurbished and was in poor condition, due to the mismanagement of the previous Liberal-National Government.
Under the former Liberal–National government, many hundreds of social homes that counted towards their social housing numbers lay vacant and derelict with no plans to redevelop them, including over 160 uninhabitable apartments in Brownlie Towers alone.
The State Government continues to progress significant redevelopment and renewal projects like North Beach and Bentley that were neglected for years under the previous Liberal-National Government.
(a) – (d)
Please refer to the answer provided to Legislative Council Question Without Notice 307 on 17 June 2021.
Please note that systems changes for data reporting within the Department of Communities in 2018 means that historical figures are not directly comparable.
(e)
As at 30 June 2021, the total social housing stock in Western Australia was 42,661.
Please note that systems changes for data reporting within the Department of Communities in 2018 means that historical figures are not directly comparable.
(f)
As at 30 June 2022, the total social housing stock in Western Australia was 43,115.
Please note that systems changes for data reporting within the Department of Communities in 2018 means that historical figures are not directly comparable.
(g)
As at 30 June 2023, the total social housing stock in Western Australia was 43,690.
Please note that systems changes for data reporting within the Department of Communities in 2018 means that historical figures are not directly comparable.
(2)
Social housing stock reporting is undertaken monthly at the last day of every month, therefore figures as at 9 November 2023 are not available.
Since our record investment, the State Government has added more than 1,900 social homes with a further 1,000 social homes currently under contract or construction. Some of these properties may not be reflected in this data as it often takes time to be transferred wholly into the Department of Communities systems across regional offices.
The State Government has inherited ageing and inappropriate housing stock that had not been maintained, refurbished and was in poor condition, due to the mismanagement of the previous Liberal-National Government.
Under the former Liberal–National government, many hundreds of social homes that counted towards their social housing numbers lay vacant and derelict with no plans to redevelop them, including over 160 uninhabitable apartments in Brownlie Towers alone.
The State Government continues to progress significant redevelopment and renewal projects like North Beach and Bentley that were neglected for years under the previous Liberal-National Government.
(a) – (d)
Please refer to the answer provided to Legislative Council Question Without Notice 307 on 17 June 2021.
Please note that systems changes for data reporting within the Department of Communities in 2018 means that historical figures are not directly comparable.
(e)
As at 30 June 2021, the total social housing stock in Western Australia was 42,661.
Please note that systems changes for data reporting within the Department of Communities in 2018 means that historical figures are not directly comparable.
(f)
As at 30 June 2022, the total social housing stock in Western Australia was 43,115.
Please note that systems changes for data reporting within the Department of Communities in 2018 means that historical figures are not directly comparable.
(g)
As at 30 June 2023, the total social housing stock in Western Australia was 43,690.
Please note that systems changes for data reporting within the Department of Communities in 2018 means that historical figures are not directly comparable.
(2)
Social housing stock reporting is undertaken monthly at the last day of every month, therefore figures as at 9 November 2023 are not available.
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