Answers to Questions

Hutt St Centre

In reply to the Hon. R.A. SIMMS ().1 May 2024).

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

The Malinauskas government has provided funding for extensions of the Aspire program, firstly through an election commitment of $2.1 million and secondly with a further $1.695 million in the 2023-24 state budget. On top of this, the 2024-25 state budget included a further $5 million over four years to extend intake of the Aspire program for an additional three years.

In addition to the extending funding for the Aspire program, the new five-year National Agreement on Social Housing and Homelessness agreement will secure an estimated $625.05 million from the commonwealth government over the next five years. Of this amount, $126.69 million will be used to address homelessness. The state will also match this contribution, bringing the total funding for addressing homelessness to $256.38 million over the next five years.

The South Australian government has launched its Better Housing for South Australians Roadmap, which includes a comprehensive plan to deliver more social and affordable dwellings and provide better opportunities for those who are renting privately and buying a home. These initiatives are summarised below.

The state government has committed to delivering the first substantial increase to public housing in a generation. Former governments allowed public housing to gradually decline, resulting in longer waiting times for people who need help.

The state government is on track to deliver over 1,025 new homes and undertake 3,350 updates and upgrades to existing homes by 2026. The state government has also committed to stopping the sale of 580 public housing dwellings between 2022 and 2026.