TREASURY

SENATE QUESTION

Notice Given: 18 April 2016 (Question No. 1st session - 2977, 2nd session - 3231)

Senator Ludlam, asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 18 April 2016

With reference to the following programs cut in the 2014-15 Budget as part of the Smaller Government Reform Agenda, can a list be provided of the annual budget (including operating costs and staff levels) for each of the following programs prior to their abolition:

(a) Prime Minister's Council on Homelessness;

(b) National Housing Supply Council;

TREASURY

SENATE  QUESTION

Notice Given:  18 April 2016

(Question No.  1st session - 2972, 211ct  session - 3227)

Senator Ludlam, asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 18 April 2016:

With reference to the Affordable Housing working group established in January 2016:

(1) Who has been invited to join the working group.

(2)  How were these invited groups chosen.

(3)  Who is representing homelessness on the working group.

TREASURY

SENATE  QUESTION

Notice Given:  18 April 2016

(Question No . 1st session 2978, 2nd  session - 3232)

Senator Ludlam, asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 18 April 2016

With reference to the National Housing Supply Council that was abolished in the 2014-15 Budget:

(1)  What data is Treasury compiling on the current national housing supply gap and by whom.

The government's stubborn refusal to act on yet another substantial piece of evidence that negative gearing is forcing people out of the housing market shows just how divorced from reality they are, the Australian Greens said today.

"A Liberal-chaired inquiry into housing affordability found that negative gearing has created a housing market dominated by speculative investors, a housing market where first home buyers are increasingly shut out," Australian Greens Co-Deputy Leader and Housing spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said today.

The Abbott-Turnbull Government’s weakly veiled defense of ‘public interest’ to hide the Perth Freight Link business case and reasons behind the decision to announce an extra $260million to dig a tunnel under people’s homes smacks of arrogance and contempt for the WA community.

Greens co-deputy leader, Senator for WA Scott Ludlam won a senate motion on April 19, 2016 for all correspondence between ministers offices and their departments to justify the extra funding and a full business case.

Greater investment in early intervention programs will reduce the risk of young people becoming homeless in the first place, Greens WA Housing spokesperson Lynn MacLaren MLC says.

“The report released today by Swinburne University reinforces what the Greens and the community sector have been saying all along – we need early intervention programs and better family violence services,” Ms MacLaren said. 

Today the Australian Greens extend a slow clap to Malcolm Turnbull for his predictable non-announcement to keep negative gearing, which is locking thousand of first home-owners out of the housing market.

Greens co-deputy leader and spokesperson for housing Senator for WA Scott Ludlam said housing had now become a pivotal election issue and the Greens will continue to fight to scrap negative gearing.

Nearly 50 per cent of renters are spending half of their wage on rent according to preliminary feedback from the Green’s Rental Affordability Survey launched yesterday.

In the last 24 hours, 2188 people have responded to questions of rental affordability, unwarranted evictions, landlord maintenance issues and rent increases.