Pledge on housing

PUBLIC housing in the City of Casey is set for a boost with Housing Minister Richard Wynne promising to work with the new Federal Government to bring down waiting lists in the area.
Latest waiting list figures show there was an increase of 184 last year in the number of people on the waiting list bringing the total to 9383 in the region.
Mr Wynne said the Victorian Government had a strong record on social housing.
“Since 1999, the Victorian Government has contributed very significantly to social housing, over and above our obligations under the Commonwealth State Housing Agreement.”
“In the last state budget, we committed over $510 million to grow the stock of social housing – the largest one off commitment ever made by a state government.”
Mr Wynne visited the City of Casey in September to listen to local welfare organisations outline the housing stress facing many residents in the area.
On that visit, he said it was imperative that all three tiers of government work together on public housing.
“Since 1995, the previous Federal Government cut over $1 billion in funding for Victoria’s public housing system – we could have used that funding to build or acquire over 5000 dwellings.”
Mr Wynne said Victoria was now looking to turn that legacy around with the new Federal Government.
“Victoria is looking forward to working closely with the new Federal Government to grow our stock of social housing.
“We are also looking to engage with the Rudd Government as they roll out their significant new private rental scheme, which holds the potential to deliver 50,000 new homes across Australia, at 20 per cent below market rent.
“This new scheme holds the potential to take more pressure off our waiting list.”