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

I thank Senator Sterle for the question. Senator Abetz at the start of today's questioning talked about the achievements of the Gillard government. Social housing is one of the great achievements of the government. The largest single investment in social housing history in this country has been through the Gillard government. Right now we are building more than 21,000 new social housing dwellings across Australia. This is happening under the government's stimulus package—a stimulus package which Liberal and National party senators voted against on the other side of the chamber. There are 19,600 new social housing dwellings and around 15,700 are already complete. There are also repairs and maintenance of over 80,000 dwellings. This is on top of the $6.2 billion we provide under the National Affordable Housing Agreement to the states to help them support social housing dwellings and also for repairs and maintenance.

One of the great outcomes is that at least half of these 21,000 homes are going to people who are homeless or are at risk of homelessness. Overall, the investment will provide much-needed housing for around 34,000 Australians. Under the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness A Place to Call Home program we have invested in 600 supported accommodation dwellings for those who are homeless or at risk. This is on top of the 180 new or expanded homelessness services we are rolling out across the country.

In one week from today, it will be the one-year anniversary of Common Ground in Melbourne, a very innovative program taken from New York. In one year, it will house 65 people. It is not just stopping in Melbourne; this will go across the country. Overall, we are funding six Common Ground facilities and also nine youth foyers across the country. This is real achievement in housing and it is happening right now. (Time expired)