Public Housing

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (14:36): My question is to the Minister for Human Services regarding stimulus. Can the minister outline how much of more than $42 million, that was approved in the last budget for new homes, upgrades and maintenance stimulus during the 2019-20 year, was actually spent during that time?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:37): In terms of the stimulus spending, we had from memory $21.4 million, which was for the walk-up flat program, and we had another amount of money which was for general maintenance for a range of properties within the House Trust portfolio.

As members would appreciate, with the building and construction industry one needs to get contracts in place. Some of the maintenance contractors were already doing works for the South Australian Housing Authority, so that is a question of having accelerated that particular program commencing in the 2019-20 financial year. There were also other new projects which wouldn't necessarily have been on the existing list. In terms of the exact dollar amount of how much has been spent to date, I would need to take that on notice.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Ms Bourke, a supplementary.