[Greens-Media] Auditor General reveals $650m backlog in public housingmaintenance

[Mithra Cox]

MEDIA RELEASE
2nd March 2005

Auditor General reveals $650m backlog in public housing maintenance


Four years after recommending massive changes to clear a $750 million
backlog in public housing maintenance, the Auditor General's report
into the Department of Housing reveals that there is still a $650
million backlog, Greens MP Sylvia Hale said today.

"The Report also criticised the lack of transparency in the
Department's figures, suggesting that the backlog could even be
greater than the $650 million stated by the Department," Ms Hale
said.

"Many public housing residents feel dissatisfied with the level of
maintenance provided by the Department of Housing, with the report
saying that over half of all residents felt dissatisfied with the time
taken to fix a problem.

"The inaction of the Department has resulted in tenants being exposed
to asbestos, living with broken plumbing, and having a standard of
living lower than those who can afford private rental housing.

"The anger and frustration which tragically bubbled over into
violence in Macquarie Fields this past week is the result of the years
of neglecting the living conditions of people in public housing.

"Marginalising and condemning people living in poverty will serve
only to exacerbate social problems.

"Funding increases for public housing maintenance have been miniscule
compared with the scale of the problem and the backlog won't be
cleared until at least 2030 at the current rate.

"Despite Premier Carr's assertions that Sydney's population is
growing by 1000 people a week, the Department of Housing has only
acquired 8,000 extra dwellings since 2001.  In real terms, access to
public housing has dropped significantly.

"The tragic events at Macquarie Fields should be a wake up call to
Premier Carr that solving poverty should be the first priority of this
Government," Ms Hale said.