Housing
Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (12:19): (362) My question is to the Minister for Housing. Minister, in response to evidence yesterday that Victoria’s public housing stock had increased by just 394 properties since 2018, the Premier conceded that there have been some challenges in meeting the government’s promise to build 12,000 social and affordable homes by next year and blamed consecutive interest rate rises and supply chain disruptions. The Premier said that 7600 social and affordable homes have been built or are under construction. However, you said just 3000 social homes have been completed, with another 4600 under construction or in planning. Minister, seeing as there is some confusion between the two of you, who is right: you or the Premier?
Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Housing, Minister for Water, Minister for Equality) (12:20): Mr Mulholland, again, your interest in social housing is somewhat confounding but rather delightful. As part of the investment in the Big Housing Build, that commitment to 12,000 social homes across the state is added to by a minimum 1300 additional homes as part of the rural and regional Big Housing Build, and that adds to the minimum spend of $1.25 billion for regional Victoria. In developing and delivering these homes as part of this landmark investment that is leading the nation, we have 7600 social homes either complete or in the process of being completed through planning and construction. This, Mr Mulholland, is about making sure that when and as we deliver these homes they are modern, they are accessible, they are fit for purpose and they are close to the amenities that everybody deserves in calling somewhere home – that is, proximate to early childhood education, to primary and to secondary education, to health care and to public transport.
Mr Mulholland, you can slice and dice the figures in the way that you have just now. I have been very clear, as has the Premier, that of the 12,000 we have 7600 homes as part of the work that has been undertaken to date, of which 3000 have been completed, with the remainder either in planning or in construction. This is about at least 800 construction sites around the state. It is about 10,000 new jobs every single year. And unlike those in Canberra, who for nine years failed to invest in social housing, at last we have record investment of $497 million from the Commonwealth for at least 879 additional social homes.
On the social housing accelerator, Mr Mulholland, you will be delighted to know that Minister Julie Collins from the Commonwealth Albanese government has made sure it is being put to the best use possible. I am looking forward, when I head to a ministerial council for housing ministers next week, to also engaging with a range of other parts of housing policy reform, including homelessness and rough sleeping, and making sure that the work we do in Victoria – which is informed by the housing statement, this intergenerational reform piece delivering 80,000 homes a year for the next 10 years to meet growth in demand – has a significant focus on social housing and delivers those reforms that matter, far beyond the sorts of questions you might ask in this place, to people who can then call home a beautiful new residence that is a source of pride and a source of inclusion and means that people, families, have the opportunities that too many of us in this place and beyond take for granted. They deserve the sorts of outcomes that we are funding in record amounts.
Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (12:23): Even if we are to believe the Premier’s comments that 7600 social and affordable homes have been built or are under construction, this leaves us 4400 homes short of what has been promised. When will they be delivered?
Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Housing, Minister for Water, Minister for Equality) (12:23): Thanks, Mr Mulholland. Again, it is good to see that you are in the process of giving encouragement to the record investments we are making in social housing across the state. Every day we are in the process of building and of delivering. As much as you may wish to deride that and as much as you may wish to downplay that, this is about delivering homes for people who need them and who deserve them. Mr Mulholland, just the other day it was a joy to head out with Mr Batchelor and a range of student leaders from Elsternwick Primary to check out the brand new homes that are coming online – Bangs Street, Prahran, the ground lease models 1 and 2. Every single day we are continuing to work –
Evan Mulholland: On a point of order, President, on relevance, I have asked the minister when the remaining 4400 homes will be delivered. I have waited patiently for that answer, and we have got 7 seconds left.
The PRESIDENT: I call the minister to the question.
Harriet SHING: Every single day we are building. Every single day we are developing homes that meet the needs of Victorians. I look forward to you coming along to see that work in real life, because it is a sight to behold.