Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Social Housing and Homelessness) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Polley for the question. As the Senate knows, the government is extremely serious about tackling homelessness. We are passionate about this. We have set some very ambitious goals to reduce homelessness—halving homelessness by 2020 and offering supported accommodation to all those rough sleepers who seek it. We are working hard, but the government cannot do it alone. We need support and we are working closely with our state and territory colleagues and also with community organisations, the private sector and the Australian community to make long-term and sustainable changes.

Homelessness is something that has been neglected by Australian government for far too long. I am happy to say that, under the guidance of Minister Plibersek, there has certainly been a significant investment already: almost $5 billion from the Gillard government of new funding to homelessness services since 2008—the greatest amount ever committed in Australian history. In addition, more than half of the social housing dwellings being built under the Nation Building and Jobs Plan will go to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. I also recently announced an extension of funding for early intervention programs such as Reconnect and Home, which do wonderful work in helping young people and families avoid homelessness.

The government wants to continue to drive the momentum and continue the reform in this area, and that is why we will continue to work with our state and territory colleagues and the ministers responsible. We are not after short-term solutions; we are after long-term changes. We are interested in sustainable strategies that will deliver, particularly for those who are at risk— (Time expired)