EMERGENCY HOUSING

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg) (15:07): How lucky am I! My question is to the Minister for Housing.

The Hon. M.J. Atkinson: Why won't they put you further up the list?

The SPEAKER: Order!

Ms CHAPMAN: Does the minister expect the public of South Australia to seriously believe that people living in cars, on park benches or victims of domestic violence would be unwilling to move into a house just because Christmas is coming?

The SPEAKER: I think the wording of that question was very close to being commentary. Minister.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Families and Communities, Minister for Housing, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability) (15:07): Not only commentary, ma'am, but incorrect. I thank the member for Bragg for her question because I think it was my next Dorothy. That saves a question on our side. In fact, I thought that I might miss out, so I thank you very much.

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Well, good; you go for it.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Madam Speaker, I was really disturbed to read claims made in this morning's Advertiser, although I am pleased to receive the member for Bragg's question to be able to update the house, again, on the Nation Building Economic Stimulus package providing funding for the largest construction of new social housing here in South Australia in 20 years.

South Australia is receiving $434 million to build 1,360 new homes and upgrade 500 old homes. We were required to complete 173 houses by 30 June this year, and, as I have previously advised the house, not only did we meet this target, we exceeded it, and I am told that we are running under budget by more than $10,000 per property.

The Hon. K.O. Foley: Hear, hear!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: We are going to be spending it, though. In regard to stage 2, we are running under budget and are likely to build an extra 18 properties with the savings for a total of 1,378 new homes.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Also, $30 million of the $434 million was provided to upgrade and refurbish social housing. We increased the original target provided by the commonwealth from 391 to 500. We thought that we could do better—

Mr WILLIAMS: Point of order, Madam Speaker.

The SPEAKER: Order! There is a point of order.

Mr WILLIAMS: This information might be of interest to someone but it goes nowhere to answering the question. The question was about people not going into houses because it is so close to Christmas.

The SPEAKER: Order! Just a moment, minister. Minister, can you just get—I can understand—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister is answering the question. She can choose to answer it how she wishes; however, we are running out of question time.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: I am sorry, Madam Speaker, but I was asked about these homes that are under construction under the Nation Building Economic Stimulus package, and I am answering that question.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr WILLIAMS: Point of order: the minister has confused herself. She said when she started that she was going to answer a Dorothy—

The SPEAKER: What standing order?

Mr WILLIAMS: But she was not asked a Dorothy; she was asked a real question about real people who can't get into the homes that have been built.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I do not think there was a point of order then.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: On a point of order, Madam Speaker: I cannot hear the minister speak. That is because the interjections on that side are so loud and so rude that I cannot hear them speak, and it sits ill in the mouth for them to insist on the standing orders.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Sit down, member for Morialta, there is still a point of order going on. I would agree with your point of order there because I can hardly hear either. Sometimes they are quiet, but most of the time they are not. What is your point of order, member for Morialta?

Mr GARDNER: 134. The Minister for Transport continually raises long points of order, with great debate, which there is no provision for in the standing orders.

The SPEAKER: I think, if we start talking about raising points of order, you would need to be careful on that side. Let's forget the points of order and get on with it. Minister, can you finish your answer?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: We increased the original target provided by the commonwealth—

The Hon. K.O. Foley interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Treasurer will be quiet.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: —from 391 to 500, and then we exceeded that increased target. Our nation building construction got off to a great start and the success continues. The very first nation building house was due for completion on 1 December 2009.

Mr Marshall: What has this got to do with it?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Everything. It is about the houses and people going into them.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: It is about people going into the houses, so if you would just be quiet—

Mr Marshall interjecting: