Social Housing

Ms WORTLEY (Torrens) (15:13): My question is to the Minister for Human Services. How has the Malinauskas government supported social housing this year?

The Hon. N.F. COOK (Hurtle Vale—Minister for Human Services) (15:14): I thank the member for this question and also for her deep interest in making housing more safe, stable and affordable for those in need. This year marked a real turning point for social housing in South Australia, and indeed this month has marked another milestone in our commitment to grow public housing in this state.

Tenders for another 64 new public houses have been awarded or are currently being finalised. This work represents more than $20 million for our building and construction sector, but even more importantly, it means another 64 people and their families will have modern safe and affordable housing in the near future. This tranche of homes is spread around the Adelaide metropolitan area, including Northfield, Campbelltown, Rostrevor, Modbury, Parafield Gardens, Taperoo, Osborne, North Haven, Ferryden Park, Blair Athol, Edwardstown, Dover Gardens, Cowandilla, Marion, Park Holme and Felixstow. It was very tempting to sing that but I didn't.

Even though new elements of the construction code don't come into force until October next year, the South Australian Housing Authority is helping industry to get ready for the upcoming changes. We are delivering homes at or above the silver standard of accessibility, which is also part of our vision around broadly making the market more accessible for people for their capacity to live in at different physical capabilities.

All new public housing since March last year has been built to the minimum silver level of Liveable Housing Australia design guidelines and therefore delivering better accessibility and adaptability. Our building industry has shown how it can innovate and adapt over the years but paying them to build homes to the new standard before it actually comes into force is a great way to build capacity in the sector. The silver standard means people can age in place more easily, manage disability or health conditions and, really importantly, have friends and family come to visit who may have mobility issues themselves.

At the election, we committed the $177.5 million for new and upgraded public housing, and at the time we promised 400 new homes. This was boosted to 437 after the election and then increased again to 564 when we added an additional $55.2 million in our first Mid-Year Budget Review, thanks to the work of the Treasurer.

As of today, 202 homes are complete, under construction or out for tender. We are looking to have another 235 homes tendered and under construction during 2024, and that is before we get to work on homes under the extra $135.8 million we secured from the commonwealth for social housing in South Australia that needs to be committed prior to June 2025.

On Monday this week, applications closed for the tender where community housing providers have put forward their best proposals for extra federal funding. In September this year, federal Labor passed its legislation for the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund legislation, despite the opposition from the Liberals who voted against it and delayed it for months.

I expect to stand here in 2024 and update the house on many great outcomes for South Australia that the Liberal Party tried to stop. The difference between each side of this house could not be greater. One party promised to grow public housing before the election and then more than doubled its investment in social housing after the election via more state and commonwealth commitments. In contrast, the other side of the house spent four years in government slashing the social housing sector and the public housing budget, and, also, what did they promise at the election? An 80-word policy to continue to do nothing.