❓ Hon Sue Ellery questions the WA government's response to homelessness, citing a critical opinion piece. Hon Robyn McSweeney defends the government's actions, highlighting investment and initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 476Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
HOMELESSNESS
I refer to the opinion piece by Toby Hall, who is the chief executive of Mission Australia, in The West Australian newspaper last Wednesday, 5 August, in which he stated that — State and Territory government responses to the Federal Government’s homelessness strategy have … been patchy. And, further — While NSW has done very well so far, other States such as … WA have dragged their feet. Why is the WA state government dragging its feet on homelessness, when, on any given night, more than 13 000 Western Australians are homeless and more than 1 100 of those are children? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY
I refer to the opinion piece by Toby Hall, who is the chief executive of Mission Australia, in The West Australian newspaper last Wednesday, 5 August, in which he stated that — State and Territory government responses to the Federal Government’s homelessness strategy have … been patchy. And, further — While NSW has done very well so far, other States such as … WA have dragged their feet. Why is the WA state government dragging its feet on homelessness, when, on any given night, more than 13 000 Western Australians are homeless and more than 1 100 of those are children? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for her question. I do not believe we are dragging our feet on homelessness. Homelessness is a very serious issue. Our state government has put $68 million into the national homelessness scheme, and we have 14 new initiatives up and running. I closed National Homeless Persons’ Week on Sunday and marched with hundreds of other people. We have put 110 new full-time equivalent workers on the ground, and we are making progress. At times it does not seem like we are making progress because so many people are homeless. However, I can give the Leader of the Opposition the latest reports on what we have done, and I am happy to do that. Distinguished Visitor — Mr Marshall Perron THE PRESIDENT (Hon Barry House) : Before the Leader of the Opposition asks her question, I acknowledge the presence in the President’s gallery of Marshall Perron, a former Chief Minister of the Northern Territory. I welcome him to the Legislative Council.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for her question. I do not believe we are dragging our feet on homelessness. Homelessness is a very serious issue. Our state government has put $68 million into the national homelessness scheme, and we have 14 new initiatives up and running. I closed National Homeless Persons’ Week on Sunday and marched with hundreds of other people. We have put 110 new full-time equivalent workers on the ground, and we are making progress. At times it does not seem like we are making progress because so many people are homeless. However, I can give the Leader of the Opposition the latest reports on what we have done, and I am happy to do that. Distinguished Visitor — Mr Marshall Perron THE PRESIDENT (Hon Barry House) : Before the Leader of the Opposition asks her question, I acknowledge the presence in the President’s gallery of Marshall Perron, a former Chief Minister of the Northern Territory. I welcome him to the Legislative Council.
I thank the member for her question. I do not believe we are dragging our feet on homelessness. Homelessness is a very serious issue. Our state government has put $68 million into the national homelessness scheme, and we have 14 new initiatives up and running. I closed National Homeless Persons’ Week on Sunday and marched with hundreds of other people. We have put 110 new full-time equivalent workers on the ground, and we are making progress. At times it does not seem like we are making progress because so many people are homeless. However, I can give the Leader of the Opposition the latest reports on what we have done, and I am happy to do that. Distinguished Visitor — Mr Marshall Perron THE PRESIDENT (Hon Barry House) : Before the Leader of the Opposition asks her question, I acknowledge the presence in the President’s gallery of Marshall Perron, a former Chief Minister of the Northern Territory. I welcome him to the Legislative Council.
I do not believe we are dragging our feet on homelessness. Homelessness is a very serious issue. Our state government has put $68 million into the national homelessness scheme, and we have 14 new initiatives up and running. I closed National Homeless Persons’ Week on Sunday and marched with hundreds of other people. We have put 110 new full-time equivalent workers on the ground, and we are making progress. At times it does not seem like we are making progress because so many people are homeless. However, I can give the Leader of the Opposition the latest reports on what we have done, and I am happy to do that. Distinguished Visitor — Mr Marshall Perron THE PRESIDENT (Hon Barry House) : Before the Leader of the Opposition asks her question, I acknowledge the presence in the President’s gallery of Marshall Perron, a former Chief Minister of the Northern Territory. I welcome him to the Legislative Council.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for her question. I do not believe we are dragging our feet on homelessness. Homelessness is a very serious issue. Our state government has put $68 million into the national homelessness scheme, and we have 14 new initiatives up and running. I closed National Homeless Persons’ Week on Sunday and marched with hundreds of other people. We have put 110 new full-time equivalent workers on the ground, and we are making progress. At times it does not seem like we are making progress because so many people are homeless. However, I can give the Leader of the Opposition the latest reports on what we have done, and I am happy to do that. Distinguished Visitor — Mr Marshall Perron THE PRESIDENT (Hon Barry House) : Before the Leader of the Opposition asks her question, I acknowledge the presence in the President’s gallery of Marshall Perron, a former Chief Minister of the Northern Territory. I welcome him to the Legislative Council.
I thank the member for her question. I do not believe we are dragging our feet on homelessness. Homelessness is a very serious issue. Our state government has put $68 million into the national homelessness scheme, and we have 14 new initiatives up and running. I closed National Homeless Persons’ Week on Sunday and marched with hundreds of other people. We have put 110 new full-time equivalent workers on the ground, and we are making progress. At times it does not seem like we are making progress because so many people are homeless. However, I can give the Leader of the Opposition the latest reports on what we have done, and I am happy to do that. Distinguished Visitor — Mr Marshall Perron THE PRESIDENT (Hon Barry House) : Before the Leader of the Opposition asks her question, I acknowledge the presence in the President’s gallery of Marshall Perron, a former Chief Minister of the Northern Territory. I welcome him to the Legislative Council.
I do not believe we are dragging our feet on homelessness. Homelessness is a very serious issue. Our state government has put $68 million into the national homelessness scheme, and we have 14 new initiatives up and running. I closed National Homeless Persons’ Week on Sunday and marched with hundreds of other people. We have put 110 new full-time equivalent workers on the ground, and we are making progress. At times it does not seem like we are making progress because so many people are homeless. However, I can give the Leader of the Opposition the latest reports on what we have done, and I am happy to do that. Distinguished Visitor — Mr Marshall Perron THE PRESIDENT (Hon Barry House) : Before the Leader of the Opposition asks her question, I acknowledge the presence in the President’s gallery of Marshall Perron, a former Chief Minister of the Northern Territory. I welcome him to the Legislative Council.
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