Question Time

Housing Trust Rent

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:07): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier explain to Felicity, a 69-year-old Housing Trust tenant who lives in a one-bedroom cottage in Noarlunga Downs, how she is expected to pay for the government's rent increase of up to $30 extra per week? With your leave and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr MALINAUSKAS: Felicity recently contacted her local member of parliament with a message to the Premier, which reads as follows:

Can you please ask what should I do: become homeless; stop eating; or not buy my medication in order to avoid paying the increase in my Housing SA rent? I do not have heating or cooling so cannot save money that way. I do not smoke or drink either. I already live below the poverty line.

The SPEAKER: That question is wide open, and I would expect a very broad answer from the Premier. I will not be entertaining points of order on debate or relevance unless they are very explicit. Premier.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:08): Thank you very much, and I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. Of course, we have great concern for every single person in South Australia who is struggling to make ends meet. This was one of the principal things we spoke about in the lead-up to the election.

While we were out talking to people about our strong plan for real change in South Australia, people had told us about the incredible burden that they were under because of the previous government's complete disregard for cost-of-living issues. Under the previous government—and they certainly do not want to refer to this at the moment—we saw a massive increase in the cost-of-living burden for every single person in this state. Electricity prices went through the roof—through the roof; the highest priced electricity in the nation with the least reliable grid. In terms of water prices, the rort that those opposite perpetrated on the people of South Australia was absolutely extraordinary. That's what they did. Emergency services levy, what a massive increase for most households—

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Not in that case, but I'm talking about across the board for the people of South Australia. Emergency services levy increases for the new government have already been dealt with. But the biggest issue that has been perpetrated against people in this state was the lack of jobs. That was the major issue and, of course, we are doing everything we can on this side of the house to grow the size of our economy. As you—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Premier, please be seated one moment. There are a number of members, especially on my left, that are about to be called to order and warned. I expect the Premier to be heard in silence. The Premier has the call.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: As I was directed by the Speaker, the question was extraordinarily broad, and the Speaker in fact instructed me to deal with the breadth of the issue regarding cost of living. I am happy to return to the specific issue raised at the beginning of the question before the Leader of the Opposition inserted a whole pile of other barbs into his question. It is difficult, and I am sorry that we were left such a mess by those opposite. Let's not forget, in December last year the member for West Torrens told the people of South Australia that we were heading for a surplus last financial year.

What actually happened on budget day? The full catastrophe that those opposite presided over was revealed for every single person to see: a $400 million deficit. And we've got to do the responsible thing by all South Australians and bring the budget back into balance. That was a commitment that we made before the election. Unlike those opposite, when we make a commitment in the lead-up to the election, we deliver it. We know what you did after the 2014 election. There was no indication whatsoever to the people of South Australia about a massive increase in the cost of living with regard to the emergency services levy, no forewarning whatsoever, just a nasty surprise afterwards.

The reality is that a small number of people that are living in public housing will have an increase in their weekly rent. That will be phased in over a period of time. It will not be, as the Leader of the Opposition incorrectly pointed out to this house, a $30 hit in a single year—absolute rubbish, but that's what we are used to from this learner-plate Leader of the Opposition opposite. We know that we are setting this benchmark of 25 per cent of a person's income. That is what the vast majority of Housing Trust tenants actually pay, and that is a fairer amount. But I tell you the commitment from this government, sir, that we will be working every single day to reduce the cost of living of all South Australians in this state, and that is our commitment.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Before I call the Leader of the Opposition, I call the member for Hurtle Vale to order. The member for Reynell is called to order and warned, as is the member for Kaurna, the member for Lee, the member for West Torrens, the member for Wright, the member for Mawson, the member the Badcoe, the deputy leader and the leader. The member for Playford is also called to order, as is the Minister for Child Protection and the member for Waite. The Leader of the Opposition has the call.