Page 3194 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 20 August 2019
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but that assurance is easily shaken. It is easily shaken when we see derelict public housing left unattended and uninhabited for long periods of time and when we see public housing precincts and properties looking like rubbish tips. The budget appropriation is allocated to the public housing landlords. The landlord is the minister responsible for Housing ACT. Speak of the devil—no, I was saying good things; it is all right.
Ms Berry: I know you all have. I was listening upstairs.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: That is extremely disorderly.
MR PARTON: In this regard the community would hope that the conditions of lease agreements entered into by public housing tenants are effectively communicated and that the consequences of breaches are well understood and appropriately enforced. Those of us who spend some time dealing in this space all know that this is an ongoing problem.
The consumers of social housing services also have legitimate expectations. After being allocated a budget-funded property, tenants are entitled to the quiet enjoyment of their dwelling. This includes the landlord’s prompt responses to repair and maintenance requirements, especially with a new maintenance contract now in place. We also expect the minister, as landlord, to provide other measures that ensure tenants’ safety, security and peace of mind. I hope that the $106 million total costs in the associated appropriation are configured to achieve these expectations.
The homelessness issue is a significant challenge for the territory. It is one that must be constantly monitored to make sure that housing services solutions stay on track. In this regard the public housing waiting list provides a key indicator of homelessness needs. The waiting list is a bit of a moving feast. Back in early 2017 there were around 1,900 people waiting for relief, which had crept up to 2,058 by May of this year. There are now 2,286 applicants sitting in the housing queue. In parallel with this trend, the pressure on overnight shelter providers is increasing; some would say getting out of hand altogether.
I appreciate, and I think that even Ms Le Couteur appreciates, based on the words in her speech, that we cannot have an endless supply of public housing. However, when there are anything up to 400 properties vacant, the idea that some applicants can spend almost three years on the waiting list is an incredible disappointment and frustration to those who are waiting in vain, especially when we are incurring a total cost of around $106 million.
Another key indicator is the housing supply itself. In 2018-19 there was a target to provide 11,809 dwellings, but this has slipped down to 11,770 for 2019-20. I wonder how much further momentum this trend has and what the government’s strategy to arrest it is. Part of the government’s response is the construction or provision of 1,200 new dwellings over the next five years, but the government did not explicitly mention that this would be a net gain of 900 dwellings, 200 of which will address the waiting list. I am sure the community will tell us if this is the right answer or not. No
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