[Greens-Media] Greens call for state to address homelessness amidst shrinking house affordability

[Walker, Nadine]

Greens call for state to address homelessness amidst shrinking house affordability 
Media statement, Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Ahead of today's Committee on Economic Development Australia (CEDA) event 'the need for affordable housing and visible homelessness is more evident on our city streets', explained  Greens Federal spokesperson for Infrastructure, Senator Scott Ludlam. The need comes amid controversy the State has lost its AAA credit rating and plunged WA into drowning debt.

"Homelessness is becoming more visible on our streets, which doesn't show the rising number of homeless people couch surfing - an under-reported form of homelessness".

Greens state spokesperson for Housing, Lynn MacLaren, explained how housing markets across Australia have been severely unaffordable for 10 years. 

"In Western Australia, affordability has continued to decrease since 2011. It's time to stop the downward spiral". 

"On a global scale, the 2014 Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey shows that the cost of housing in Perth is dire. It's time this government brought us back to world's best practice in housing the homeless." 

"The Government have a target of 20,000 new homes by 2020, but about 1000 people are flooding into WA every week and it is putting more pressure on housing and infrastructure, which has created more need than expected." 

"The Government needs to recalibrate its budget to maximise on the mining boom and leave a caring legacy, not one built on sports", said Senator Ludlam. 

The CEDA event today will ask Treasurer Troy Buswell how he intends to manage the State's finances with debt escalating to $22billion coupled with declining revenue while concerns of cost of living and housing affordability soar.


For comment: Hon Lynn MacLaren MLC
Mobile 0403 721 951

Media liaison: Nadine Walker
Mobile 0449 189 195

Office of Hon Lynn MacLaren MLC, Member for South Metropolitan Region
Legislative Council, Parliament of Western Australia
Unit 7, 142 South Terrace, Fremantle, Western Australia 6160
Tel 08 9430 7233
Nadine.Walker at mp.wa.gov.au   www.LynnMacLaren.org.au