The Liberal Government has failed to provide any evidence to underpin the decision to give away 500 public housing properties to the private sector.

Shadow Human Services Minister Rebecca White said the Liberals are unable to explain why they are rushing into gifting $125 million worth of public assets.

“The Government has rushed head-on into a privatisation agenda without a mandate,” Ms White said.

“Jacquie Petrusma failed in Question Time to point to any evidence to back up her Government’s privatisation of public housing stocks.

“Labor’s concern is not with community housing providers’ ability to manage these properties, but with the Government’s handling of the issue.

“The Minister couldn’t even say if the decision had to be approved by Parliament, in line with the requirements of the Crown Lands Act.

“The Liberals promised not to privatise public assets, before and after the 2014 election.

“The Minister indicated in Estimates last year that the handover of title was not something up for consideration for five to ten years.”

“I am not saying it will ever happen but I am not going to rule it out. We cannot say what the decision is going to be in five or 10 years’ time, but because you are quite right that there are legitimate concerns, it will not be happening for quite a few years.” (Minister Jacquie Petrusma, Estimates, September 2014)

The Minister went on to say: “At this stage because there are legitimate concerns I can say that unless we can be sure that tenants’ rights will be protected and Housing stock will definitely 100 per cent remain affordable housing that complies with national community housing regulations et cetera, it will be ruled out. There is a lot more work to be done before it will ever be ruled in but I am not going to 100 per cent rule out something which in five or 10 years in the future might have to be coming in.”

“Now they’re giving away 500 public housing properties without any clear supporting evidence, without consulting stakeholders, and they are failing to be transparent about the process,” Ms White said.
Rebecca White MP Shadow Human Services Minister