STATE AND TERRITORIES SAY BROUGH IS WALKING AWAY FROM PUBLIC HOUSING

Housing Ministers from each state and territory have asked Federal Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, not to put the lives of many Australian families in jeopardy by destroying 60 years of cooperation between Federal and State governments.

In a joint letter sent today, the Ministers have told Mr Brough his plan to scrap the Commonwealth State Housing Agreement (CSHA) will hurt those most in need of the nation’s help.

“This is just another desperate grab for power,” said NSW Minister for Housing Matt Brown.

“They have already stripped $1 billion from the New South Wales social housing sector over the past three successive agreements - funds that could have built 5,000 new homes for people in need in our state.”

“We have come together to ask Mr Brough to show real leadership in this critical issue by working together with all states and territories,” said Victorian Minister for Housing Richard Wynne.

"We are incredibly disappointed the Federal Government chose to arbitrarily and without any consultation abandon its responsibility to work cooperatively with the States," said WA Housing Minister, Michelle Roberts.

Queensland Minister for Housing Robert Schwarten said: “It’s clear the Federal Government is seeking to divert attention away from its failure to address the growing housing crisis in this country.”

“They stand back, as interest rates continue to rise, and look for ways to blame the states and territories.”

“The CSHA has provided for 60 years of social housing across the country, helping millions of needy people put a roof over their head, and every state and territory remains 100 per cent committed to it,” said South Australian Minister for Housing Jay Weatherill.

Minister for Housing in ACT John Hargreaves said: “To throw it away by forcing the states to compete against the private sector in the delivery of social housing ignores the inter-relationship between social housing and other forms of assistance, and similarly ignores the responsibility of governments to maintain the existing system.”

Mr Hargreaves said a comprehensive plan was last month handed to the Federal Government that would:

• Secure the viability of the social housing sector, now and into the future
• Increase the supply of social housing
• Improve housing affordability for private renters
• Improve access to affordable home ownership
• Increase the supply and distribution of affordable housing through new development and redevelopment projects
• Improve housing opportunities for Indigenous people

“Instead, the Federal Government plays politics with the lives of Australian families,” said Tasmania’s Minister for Health and Human Services, Lara Giddings.

“This letter to Mr Brough calls on him to accept the Federal Government’s critical role in addressing the housing crisis by acting on the plan we have outlined.”

The NT Minister for Housing, Elliot McAdam added: “We want them to commit to a National Housing Agreement and to reaffirm its commitment to the CSHA.”

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