Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-11-11 Daily Xml

Contents

State Budget

The Hon. M.C. PARNELL (15:00): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Treasurer about the budget.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M.C. PARNELL: As part of the land tax bill debate last year, the Greens secured a number of commitments from the government, which were outlined by the Treasurer during the committee stage of the debate on the bill on the afternoon of 28 November last year. The commitments that had a budget implication were as follows:

1. An additional $7.5 million per annum from 2020-21 to be spent on preventative maintenance and upgrade of existing public housing stock in the South Australian Housing Authority;

2. An additional $2 million per annum from 2021 to increase the provision of emergency accommodation and transitional housing for people in need, including women and children affected by family violence and people experiencing homelessness;

3. A five-year trial for a scheme to provide a land tax exemption for private houses that are rented as affordable housing while they are managed by a community housing provider, at an estimated cost of $400,000 per annum for five years;

4. Installing solar panels on a minimum of 75 per cent of all suitable existing public housing; and

5. Installing batteries, together with solar panels, in a minimum of 75 per cent of new public housing.

I acknowledge that there are lots of numbers and details there, and I am very happy for the Treasurer to take this on notice, but my question is: can the Treasurer please provide the detail of where each of these commitments is fulfilled in the latest budget?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (15:01): That is a very reasonable question. I am certainly happy to take the detailed questions on notice and bring back a reply. I can give you an assurance, however, that I have given a commitment on behalf of the government and I will ensure that it is delivered.