Housing Construction

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Leader of the Opposition) (14:26): My question is to the Premier. Has the government allocated funding to establish civil infrastructure or undertaken any civil infrastructure works for housing developments at Concordia, Golden Grove, Dry Creek, Noarlunga Downs, Hackham, Aldinga and Sellicks Beach?

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:26): Clearly, we are announcing the budget tomorrow—and we will all be present because the budget represents the most important document that is handed down during the course—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: All 46 of us in this place will appreciate that the budget is a very important policy document that we will be zeroing in on. More than that, on the back of the budget the state government will also be announcing its Housing Roadmap, as I foreshadowed, on 25 June.

More than that, can I just say a couple of things about housing policy. One of the concerning elements regarding housing goes to public housing. This is something that our state government has made substantial inroads in in terms of public housing policy and delivery. Just yesterday—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The debating team is here and they are taking notes on how you aren't listening, members of the opposition, to the government when the Premier is on his feet and answering your questions. It is in contravention of the standing orders, and people will be spending the rest of question time out of this place if those interjections continue. The Premier.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: As I was saying, public housing is an important element of housing supplied more broadly and this government has been making substantial inroads in the delivery of more homes in public housing, but also a substantial reversal on policy. We know that, under the former government, Michelle Lensink, member from the other place, oversaw a very deliberate policy when it came to public housing in South Australia, and that was to sell it off—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Chaffey!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —to be the architect of a policy that would see a net reduction in public housing in South Australia. If I was to be generous to Michelle Lensink I would say that she was not the first minister to oversee a change. What we know is that there has been a sustained sell-off of public housing stock across a 30-year period—in fact, to be more specific than that, 29 out of 30 years in the state of South Australia we have seen a net reduction in public housing stock, which means that governments, of both political persuasions, Labor and Liberal, have been selling off public housing stock.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Hartley, not only are interjections unparliamentary, they are really annoying. The Premier.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: This government has turned that around with now the biggest investment in public housing stock we have seen in a generation and an actual net increase in public housing stock, and I am very proud to be part of a government that has reversed the liquidation from Michelle Lensink. We have reversed Lensink's liquidation of public housing stock, and just yesterday I was with the Treasurer to see a good example of that coming to the fore.