Better Housing Futures

As I originally said in response to an issue raised in Parliament this week, there has not been a transfer of title under Better Housing Futures under this government.

The title to housing properties now managed by the community sector still remains with the Director of Housing. Management responsibility only, has been transferred.

These transfers are required to be recognised in the government financial statements. This is in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards and the statements have been reviewed and agreed by the office of the Auditor General.

As I told Parliament on Wednesday, Better Housing Futures has continued under the plan of the previous government and we have not changed that.

As a previous Minister, you would think that Ms White would understand what she is talking about, or what accounting processes were put in place.

The only agreement in place in regard to transfer of title, was the one signed by the previous Minister Cassy O’Connor in 2012 under the agreement with Mission Australia Housing under Stage 1 of Better Housing Futures, where Housing Tasmania is able to transfer up to 20 homes plus title to land for the purposes of development.

In the initiation of stage 1 of Better Housing Futures the titles to nine vacant lots of land were transferred to Mission Australia Housing and to date the title to one home has been transferred.

Under Stage 2 of Better Housing Futures, Housing Tasmania is not transferring title for any homes. However, once again, under the agreement signed by the previous Minister, titles are being transferred to vacant land for development. To date no titles to vacant land have been transferred.

The figures in the Budget Papers are simply a reflection of the agreements the former Minister signed. I am surprised that both former Ministers are now seeking to undermine this process.

Better Housing Futures gives tenants more choice and access to more services. The program, initiated by the previous government in 2012, sees Community Housing Limited, Housing Choices Tasmania, Centacare Evolve Housing and Mission Australia now managing almost 4,000 properties through Better Housing Futures.

The Better Housing Futures program meets Tasmania’s obligations under the Nation Building and Economic Stimulus Plan and National Affordable Housing Agreement, which required the transfer of management of up to 35 per cent of public housing stock to the community housing sector by July 2014.
Jacquie Petrusma, Minister for Human Services