Legislative Council Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1) 55 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Regional Rental Affordability Regional Rental Affordability The Hon. R.A. SIMMS Legislative Council Regional Rental Affordability The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (14:57): A supplementary question arising from the answer: how many new public homes has the Malinauskas government built in the regions, and would the minister support a freeze on rents so that South Australians can get some reprieve, particularly those in the regions? The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: Minister, you can answer the question if you wish. The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN Legislative Council Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister for Forest Industries The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:58): In terms of the number of houses, I am happy to refer that to the relevant minister in the other place, but I do think that it is particularly appropriate that we refer to the fact that this government has started the turnaround from the sell-off of public housing, which, again, has been under governments of both stripes previously. That is something that the Premier and the housing minister have certainly acknowledged. Under the previous government, there was a large amount of public housing that was slated for sale, and we have stopped that. For the first time, there will be a net increase in the build of public housing. In terms of a rent freeze, I think the honourable member is aware that the implications of that in terms of potentially reducing the supply of housing stock have been well documented. It is not considered by credible economists to be something that would actually result in the outcome that we would wish, which is more housing availability in the rental market, including in regional areas.