BROUGH IGNORANT OF HOUSING: SCHWARTEN
Published Tuesday, 30 October, 2007 at 12:14 PM
Minister for Public Works, Housing and Information and Communication Technology
The Honourable Robert Schwarten
The Federal Minister responsible for housing, Mal Brough, does not understand social housing, Queensland Housing Minister Robert Schwarten said today.
Mr Schwarten’s comments were in response to claims made by Mr Brough at a housing affordability community forum in Caboolture yesterday that there were now 400 less public houses in Queensland.
“The fact is that Queensland has increased its housing stock by 23% or 12,308 units of accommodation during the past decade,” Mr Schwarten said.
“Ten years ago, there were 52,479 units of public housing accommodation in Queensland and today there is 64,787.
“Therefore his assertion that there are 400 less houses is pure fantasy and fabrication.
"And with a boost of $500 million extra over the next five years, there's even more social housing on the way for Queensland."
Mr Schwarten said he had no idea where Mr Brough got his figures.
“They bear no relation to the truth whatsoever and obviously the pressure that he is under with the embarrassing performance of his government in recent times has caused him to either lie or take his eye off the ball,” he said.
Mr Schwarten said the Queensland Government had continued to boost its portfolio of social housing while the Federal Government has slashed its funding contribution.
“More than $400 million has been raked out of Commonwealth funding for social housing in Queensland since the mid-1990s,” he said.
“The Queensland Department of Housing has developed innovative solutions like the Brisbane and Gold Coast housing companies, which are unique partnerships between the State Government and the respective local councils to deliver more housing.
“It has bought caravan parks to help address homelessness as well as building singles units and a range of other innovative housing solutions.
“Mr Brough and those in the Liberal and National parties have no idea about any of them.
“Either way I encourage his voters of Longman, which is enduring a housing affordability crisis with private rents rising by $70 a week or 50% in the past five years, to put Mr Brough last on the ballot paper.
“There needs to be a groundswell of grassroot voters to protest at his treatment of the housing issue to give this government a clear message on the issue of housing affordability.”
Media contact: Scott Chandler (07) 3237 1832
Mr Schwarten’s comments were in response to claims made by Mr Brough at a housing affordability community forum in Caboolture yesterday that there were now 400 less public houses in Queensland.
“The fact is that Queensland has increased its housing stock by 23% or 12,308 units of accommodation during the past decade,” Mr Schwarten said.
“Ten years ago, there were 52,479 units of public housing accommodation in Queensland and today there is 64,787.
“Therefore his assertion that there are 400 less houses is pure fantasy and fabrication.
"And with a boost of $500 million extra over the next five years, there's even more social housing on the way for Queensland."
Mr Schwarten said he had no idea where Mr Brough got his figures.
“They bear no relation to the truth whatsoever and obviously the pressure that he is under with the embarrassing performance of his government in recent times has caused him to either lie or take his eye off the ball,” he said.
Mr Schwarten said the Queensland Government had continued to boost its portfolio of social housing while the Federal Government has slashed its funding contribution.
“More than $400 million has been raked out of Commonwealth funding for social housing in Queensland since the mid-1990s,” he said.
“The Queensland Department of Housing has developed innovative solutions like the Brisbane and Gold Coast housing companies, which are unique partnerships between the State Government and the respective local councils to deliver more housing.
“It has bought caravan parks to help address homelessness as well as building singles units and a range of other innovative housing solutions.
“Mr Brough and those in the Liberal and National parties have no idea about any of them.
“Either way I encourage his voters of Longman, which is enduring a housing affordability crisis with private rents rising by $70 a week or 50% in the past five years, to put Mr Brough last on the ballot paper.
“There needs to be a groundswell of grassroot voters to protest at his treatment of the housing issue to give this government a clear message on the issue of housing affordability.”
Media contact: Scott Chandler (07) 3237 1832