Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

Our government remains committed to the 2020 targets of our white paper on homelessness of halving the overall rate of homelessness and providing supported accommodation to all rough sleepers who seek it. The ABS census data released last November shows that the rate of people sleeping rough fell by 13.5 per cent between 2006 and 2011. The rate of Indigenous homelessness has fallen by 14.5 per cent. However, the census headline figure showing an increase in the rate of homelessness of eight per cent is disappointing. The increase reflects the challenge and the complexity of homelessness.

However, more people are getting the help that they need. Specialist homelessness services provide important supports, in the form of accommodation and other assistance, to vulnerable people in times of crisis. We are committed to the continuation of current service levels and would like to reaffirm to the services sector and all stakeholders and clients that the Commonwealth's level of investment, as well as our commitment to quality and transparency, will continue. That is why we have committed up to $159 million over the next year, to be matched by the states and territories, toward a transitional agreement to continue to tackle homelessness. However, currently only four states—Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales and Tasmania—have committed funding to that project.