[Greens-Media] Government is both obnoxious and out of touch on social housing

[Jamie Parker]

The release today of a discussion paper on public housing highlights the NSW Liberal Government is out of touch with reality and deliberately avoiding public scrutiny, says Greens MP Jamie Parker.

Mr Parker has strongly supported the public housing community in his electorate and opposed the sale of public housing in Millers Point.

"The median rent in some suburbs of Sydney has increased by 125 per cent since 2004," says Mr Parker.  "This has made rental property out of reach for many people, and not through lack of want as the Minister is incorrectly and offensively keen to suggest.

"Sydney has become a two-tier property economy - those riding high on the property boom and those unable to afford a roof over their head. The 'have-nots' are paying the price for the 'haves'.

"The Government's obnoxious and erroneous view that more public housing tenants should be fending for themselves shows how out of touch they really are.

"In my electorate of Balmain, we assist around 100 public housing tenants every week and it's clear the Government has failed these people.

"I helped a man recently who came to me for advice after years of inaction by the Department. He, his wife and their three children, including a baby, were all living in a one-bedroom unit. His eldest child was simply unable to do her homework in such cramped conditions.

"I also endeavoured to assist the couple who lost both their business and home after he was diagnosed with a serious illness and she had to leave her job to become her husband's full-time carer? They came to me for help after finding the Department unhelpful when requesting a transfer to a ground-floor unit which he could access with a wheelchair. They have paid their taxes, worked hard and employed people in their business and now need the Government to support them after an unforseen crisis.

"This is the reality of public housing. And public housing is a vital part of a caring society.

"There are currently 55,000 households (around 120,000 people) waiting for public housing in NSW. This huge backlog has occurred as successive governments in NSW have continued to sell off public housing and failed to maintain properties.

"Neither Labor or Liberal can truthfully say they stand for social justice and diversity as both have directly contributed to the increasing gap between rich and poor in our state."

Mr Parker also criticised the Government on its decision to delay releasing its policy for public housing. "This is yet another example of how the Liberal Government says one thing and does another," he said.

"The Premier makes loud declarations to protect the vulnerable, but fails to reveal its public housing policy until after the election."

ENDS
For further media comment from Jamie Parker, contact Lesa de Leau 0413 581 603