Concerning update on housing and child protection

Shadow Human Services Rebecca White said the latest DHHS Progress Chart confirms there is another large increase in the number of people waiting for housing compared to the same time last year.

“There are currently 2759 people on the waiting list, 576 more than in 2014,” Ms White said.

“There has been a slight improvement in the number of people waiting since December but it’s not due to any strategic investment by the Liberal government in addressing this problem.

“The Liberal Government failed to use a huge boost in GST revenue in this year’s Budget to invest one dollar in affordable housing. Instead they continue to rely on funding secured by Labor and have failed to lobby their Federal colleagues to invest in a capital building program or reinstate NRAS after Prime Minister Abbott scrapped it.

“The other very concerning trend under the Hodgman Government is that category one housing applicants are waiting on average longer than five and a half months to be housed and that this length of time continues to grow.

“During a very cold snap in winter it brings into sharp focus how the Government’s talk of an affordable housing strategy would be cold comfort to anyone waiting for help to put a roof over their head right now.

“In addition to the bad report on public housing waiting lists the number of child protection investigations also raises alarm.

“The number of notifications made to child protection progressing through to investigation continues to fall under this government with no explanation for why this is the case.

“The number of notifications made to child protection has not fallen and the Government’s own budget papers show that the Department is expecting the number of notifications per 1000 children to increase this year.

“The Minister must explain how fewer investigations can be taking place.

“These figures also coincide with a number of vacancies in child protection and could suggest that investigations were not taking place due to low staff numbers.”
Rebecca White MP Shadow Human Services Minister