Ministerial Statement

HOUSING SA ACCESS PROJECT

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Families and Communities, Minister for Housing, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability) (14:03): Since the South Australian Housing Trust was founded in 1936, housing, population and our communities have changed dramatically. The Rann government has responded to these changes—

The SPEAKER: Order! Point of order.

Mr WILLIAMS: Is the minister going to seek leave to make a ministerial statement?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Sorry. I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Since the South Australian Housing Trust was founded in 1936, our housing, population and communities have changed dramatically. The Rann government has responded to these changes. Most recently, we have built new types of housing and laid the foundations for more sustainable mixed communities like Woodville West and the UNO Apartments.

We have also been working with the private sector and community organisations to address the ongoing challenge of providing quality, affordable housing. Housing SA is now embarking on the next step in this process of modernisation. Scheduled for a staged implementation in 2012, we will implement a simpler, more efficient and responsive service to those who need housing assistance.

The last decade has seen many new housing supports beyond the traditional services, such as public housing, bond guarantees and Commonwealth Rent Assistance. The Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan has provided the biggest boost to social housing construction in 20 years. The community housing sector has grown by more than 50 per cent—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Bragg!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: —and we have entered into $120 million worth of partnerships with community organisations through the Affordable Housing Innovations Fund, and there are 3,800 new affordable private rental properties coming through the National Rental Affordability Scheme. Our government has also introduced the 15 per cent requirement for affordable housing in significant new developments which—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: This is an initiative that the Liberals opposed and would have scrapped at the last election—and they certainly did not support the Economic Stimulus Plan. They would have scrapped the opportunity for us to have 2,200 commitments from 25 developers, and another 2,000 are under negotiation. The Property Locator website provides exclusive access to properties by low and middle-income households. HomeStart Finance has helped around 60,000 South Australians to buy a home, including more than 1,100 public housing tenants, through HomeStart's Equity Start Loan—I am sorry, Madam Speaker, I was waiting for an interjection.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Norwood!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: She interrupted her interjections with some silence, Madam Speaker.

Mr Venning interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Schubert!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: This is in addition to an investment of more than $200 million in homelessness supports over four years in South Australia alone. The Access Project will create a single housing register so that those in need only have to ask once to be linked to the best services for their circumstances. It will establish an integrated entry point so that those in need get the same level of service whether they talk to Housing SA, a community housing association or a range of other non-government providers.

Meanwhile, the internet will be used to give people more access, more control and more flexibility in their requests for support and their ongoing contact with service providers. Under the Rann Labor government, and working with a federal Labor government that delivers on housing policy, we are providing more affordable housing options than ever before. Housing SA will soon consult with the wider housing sector to ensure this vital reform delivers the best outcomes for the community.