Public Housing

546 Ms COOK (Hurtle Vale) (22 June 2021). How many public housing homes are currently unoccupied as of 24 June 2021?

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning and Local Government): The Minister for Human Services has provided the following advice:

Data as at 24 June 2021 is not available.

The number of vacant properties in an area fluctuates regularly, depending on how many households leave or move to other public housing, and the progress of maintenance and upgrades. The majority of vacant properties are unoccupied for short periods and become offerable following routine maintenance. In some cases, offerable properties may remain vacant for longer periods of time due to location and/or desirability by prospective tenants, or if the authority plans to significantly upgrade, redevelop or sell the site.

I am pleased to let you know that the Marshall Liberal government invested $142 million in 2020-21 in maintenance, upgrades and renewal of public housing to ensure our homes are fit for purpose. During this time the properties remain vacant to ensure works can occur, however, hundreds of newly renovated properties have recently been completed and are being offered to new tenants.