[Greens-Media] Greens call for inquiry into housing affordability crisis

[Jamie Parker]

30 July 2013: for immediate release
Greens call for inquiry into housing affordability crisis

The Greens are calling for an inquiry into the housing affordability crisis and an immediate injection of funding following an Auditor-General's report today highlighted the failure of the public housing system.

Greens MP Jamie Parker said:

"This report is a damning indictment of the O'Farrell government's continued failure in the provision of public and affordable housing.

"After years of neglect under the former Labor government, the maintenance backlog continues to skyrocket and we're seeing precious public assets fall into disrepair.

"It is a disgrace that the government has proposed a bedroom tax which will punish public housing tenants for its own failure to plan for growth and invest in the future of our communities.

"Yet again it is the most vulnerable members of our community who are suffering due to government neglect and mismanagement.

"Punishing tenants and privatising public assets is no solution.

"The report highlights that over the next 4 years, the Land and Housing Corporation will be selling twice as many properties as they are building.

"The key to addressing the public and affordable housing is crisis is long term strategic public investment by the State and Federal government.

"The Greens are calling for an inquiry into the housing affordability crisis and an immediate injection of funding to address maintenance and build new housing," Mr Parker said.

The Auditor-General's report is available here: http://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/Publications/Performance-Audit-Reports/2013-Reports/Making-the-best-use-of-public-housing/Making-the-best-use-of-public-housing

More information: Alison Martin 9660 7586 or 0432 941 533

Jamie Parker MP
Member for Balmain
112a Glebe Point Road, Glebe,  NSW 2037
(02) 9660 7586
www.jamieparker.org.au

The office of Jamie Parker MP respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on which we work - the Gadigal and Wangal People of the Eora Nation.
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