Greens call on government to double housing budget

Media Release, 3 May 2007

Greens WA MLC Giz Watson called on Government to double their financial commitment to public housing.

"While we welcomed the Government's announcement to boost public housing funds the current public housing waiting list of 15,000 families and individuals is totally unacceptable," Ms Watson said.

"We need to bring the public housing stock back to 6% of the total* if we are to reduce this waiting list,"

"Building an additional 250 units per year will only make a small dent in the current crisis." (It's a four year commitment with 230 in the first year)

"Secure, affordable housing is an essential prerequisite to achieving good health, education and employment,"

"An investment in housing will have significant positive flow on effects on all government services and departments."

The Greens are also concerned about the environmental impact of the proposed streamlining of development approvals.

"All urban development must be sustainable. The Government needs to ensure that all development meets the BASIX sustainable building code and urban bushland is conserved."

*Note: ShelterWA estimated in the 'No Room in the Broom' Briefing Paper March 2007 that an annual commitment of $800m until 2015 would raise the public housing stock to 6%, the level of 1995/1996 .