Answers to Questions

Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute

In reply to Mr KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (17 May 2018).

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier): I have been advised:

AHURI is a national organisation funded by all federal and state jurisdictions dedicated exclusively to housing, homelessness and urban research.

AHURI's research partners include the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia.

The former South Australian Labor government made contributions in excess of $600,000 to AHURI over the past five years.

While South Australian Treasurer, the member for West Torrens wrote to the commonwealth Treasurer advising that a South Australian government contribution of $124,519.80 would be made to AHURI for 2017-18.

The current South Australian government is seeking to maximise the advantage of being a funder for AHURI by commissioning some specific research. Accordingly, it is expected that AHURI will be engaged within the first 100 days as outlined in our election commitment.

The procurement of services such as those proposed to be undertaken by AHURI is subject to policies and guidelines including those issued by the State Procurement Board.

Homelessness and housing is an extremely important and complex area of social policy and I'm disappointed by the member's attacks on an organisation whose work has previously enjoyed bipartisan support.