Emergency Public Housing

In reply to the Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK ().6 March 2024).

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector): I have been advised:

The public housing system provides a critical support for a range of groups with specific housing needs beyond having low incomes.

Around a third of all allocations are made to households with a background of family violence and, in the current financial year, around a quarter of all allocations have been made to people who identified as being Aboriginal.

Since the 2022 election, the Malinauskas Labor government has made a number of investments to boost hosing supports for people who experience domestic and family violence.

These investments include an additional $232.7 million for new and upgraded public housing along with more than $7.4 million to fund both the housing and support elements of the Domestic and Family Violence Crisis Accommodation Program and Perpetrator Response Program (DFV CAP-PRP). In contrast, the former Liberal government made no election commitment for new public housing investment and only committed $1 million to the DFV CAP-PRP).

45 public housing properties are also being ring-fenced for women experiencing domestic and family violence. These homes are receiving upgrades such as security screens, security doors and sensor lights to provide safe and high-quality homes for incoming tenants. This work is in addition to responses to requests from existing tenants who may require additional security or modifications from time to time.

The ring-fenced properties are being allocated to women escaping domestic and family violence who are on category 1 of the housing register. There is no minimum or maximum proportion designated for Aboriginal women although I am advised 11 homes have been allocated to date including to Aboriginal women. Further properties will be allocated as they become available.