Published Friday, 29 June, 2007 at 05:54 PM
Minister for Public Works, Housing and Information and Communication Technology
The Honourable Robert Schwarten
SCHWARTEN SLAMS BROUGH FOR CONFERENCE NO-SHOW
The refusal of the Federal Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, to attend the State Housing Minister’s conference next week is a testament to the Federal Government’s lack of intent, Queensland Housing Minister Robert Schwarten said today.
Mr Schwarten said that as the longest serving current Housing Minister in Australia, he had long held the view that the Federal Government had treated the meetings with contempt.
“Over quite a number of years, I have formed the view that Housing Ministers' conferences pay lip service to the States and the issue of housing, and have not been taken seriously,” Mr Schwarten said.
“That the Federal Minister responsible for housing is now refusing to meet with the states on a topic that is an issue for Indigenous communities as well as the mainstream – and offers a feeble excuse that he has other things to do – shows housing is not a focus for the government.
“All his chest thumping about caring for kids in Aboriginal communities should now fall on deaf ears after this startling revelation.
“If he was on top of his portfolio he would know that good housing options reduce all sorts of ills, such as the issues he and the Prime Minister have been banging on with over the last week.
“It goes to show the contempt the Federal Government has for the States when it comes to any form of housing.”
Mr Schwarten said that with housing affordability plummeting to crisis, post-World War II levels, and with the Federal Government abandoning Aboriginal housing throughout urban and regional Australia, one has to wonder how much further Mr Brough had to go to telegraph his message that the States do not matter.
“Queensland already outspends the Commonwealth on housing, which was never the case under a Federal Labor Government,” he said.
“And we now see more cost shifting on the way with the abandonment of taxpayer-funded former ATSIC housing,” he said.
“So it is little wonder the Commonwealth wants to send the office boy, Senator Nigel Scullion, to talk to the states.”
Mr Schwarten said Queensland made an offer to the Commonwealth to provide capital funding for private housing in the form of HomeLink.
“This historic, generous and sincere offer has not even warranted a reply from the Commonwealth,” he said.
“It is now clear that Mr Brough does not recognise the important of adequate housing as it has dropped below his radar.
“It is a clear case of a Federal Government that has become arrogant and out-of-touch with average Queenslanders that are struggling in private rental and ownership markets and those struggling on housing wait lists."
Media contact: Scott Chandler on 0417 619 541
Mr Schwarten said that as the longest serving current Housing Minister in Australia, he had long held the view that the Federal Government had treated the meetings with contempt.
“Over quite a number of years, I have formed the view that Housing Ministers' conferences pay lip service to the States and the issue of housing, and have not been taken seriously,” Mr Schwarten said.
“That the Federal Minister responsible for housing is now refusing to meet with the states on a topic that is an issue for Indigenous communities as well as the mainstream – and offers a feeble excuse that he has other things to do – shows housing is not a focus for the government.
“All his chest thumping about caring for kids in Aboriginal communities should now fall on deaf ears after this startling revelation.
“If he was on top of his portfolio he would know that good housing options reduce all sorts of ills, such as the issues he and the Prime Minister have been banging on with over the last week.
“It goes to show the contempt the Federal Government has for the States when it comes to any form of housing.”
Mr Schwarten said that with housing affordability plummeting to crisis, post-World War II levels, and with the Federal Government abandoning Aboriginal housing throughout urban and regional Australia, one has to wonder how much further Mr Brough had to go to telegraph his message that the States do not matter.
“Queensland already outspends the Commonwealth on housing, which was never the case under a Federal Labor Government,” he said.
“And we now see more cost shifting on the way with the abandonment of taxpayer-funded former ATSIC housing,” he said.
“So it is little wonder the Commonwealth wants to send the office boy, Senator Nigel Scullion, to talk to the states.”
Mr Schwarten said Queensland made an offer to the Commonwealth to provide capital funding for private housing in the form of HomeLink.
“This historic, generous and sincere offer has not even warranted a reply from the Commonwealth,” he said.
“It is now clear that Mr Brough does not recognise the important of adequate housing as it has dropped below his radar.
“It is a clear case of a Federal Government that has become arrogant and out-of-touch with average Queenslanders that are struggling in private rental and ownership markets and those struggling on housing wait lists."
Media contact: Scott Chandler on 0417 619 541