Housing Research Program

The Hon. J.S. LEE (14:40): My question is to the Minister for Human Services. Can the minister provide an update on the funding arrangement for housing research?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:40): I thank the honourable member for her question. I am delighted to provide an update on funding arrangements for housing research.

The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) has been funded to deliver the National Housing Research Program through a multilateral agreement involving all state and territory governments and the Australian government since 2000. South Australia has provided annual contributions to AHURI since 2000, with some records incomplete due to machinery of government changes. I seek leave to table a set of annual funding arrangements for that organisation.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: Within the current funding year, 2017-18, letters of agreement regarding South Australia's contribution to AHURI of $124,519.80 were exchanged between federal Treasurer, Scott Morrison, and South Australia's former treasurer, Tom Koutsantonis. The former state Labor treasurer signed a letter to the federal Treasurer as follows, 'Dear Scott, Give us all your money—or else.' Sorry, I was just kidding. It was:

Thank you for your letter which seeks funding of $124,519.80 for the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) for 2017-18 from the South Australian Government to match funding provided to AHURI by the Commonwealth Government.

I confirm that South Australia will commit to provide this funding which will be finalised through a one year funding agreement.

I can understand that some form of collective amnesia may have set in amongst members opposite, but the line of questioning from them in the last sitting week was just a sheer embarrassment. I did warn them when I returned to parliament before we rose that they were throwing one of their own under the bus. My concern at that stage was for the member for Ramsay, who I have found to be a decent member and a very amiable minister, as opposed to some of the adolescent behaviour that we have seen from other members. However, unfortunately, the Australian Labor Party has thrown its current leader, the member for Croydon, and his leadership rival, the member for West Torrens, under the bus.