Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-04-30 Daily Xml

Contents

Regional Housing

The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (15:06): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question without notice to the Minister for Regional Development on the topic of regional housing.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.A. SIMMS: This morning, Anglicare released its annual housing affordability snapshot. The report shows that for a single person on JobSeeker or Youth Allowance there are no affordable homes in regional South Australia, not even in share house accommodation—not even one affordable home. For a single person on the minimum wage only 5 per cent of properties were affordable in north and west country SA, the Limestone Coast, the Riverland and the Murraylands. The report by Anglicare recommends more social and affordable homes and states:

With the private rental market failing so many people, we must invest in homes for people [that] need them most. Ending our affordable housing shortfall would be the most powerful way to tackle the rental crisis—and boost our regional economy. The Federal and State governments must work together [to] end this shortfall.

My question to the Minister for Regional Development is:

1. How many public houses and affordable homes have been built by the Malinauskas government in the regions so far?

2. When will people in the regions expect to see more housing delivered?

3. Is the minister concerned that affordable housing is out of reach for her constituents in regional South Australia?

4. Will she advocate for a rent freeze to finally provide renters in the regions with some relief?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:07): I thank the honourable member for his question. I will refer the question to the Minister for Housing and bring back a response.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Can you stop wasting your question time? The Hon. Ben Hood.