Thursday, 16 September 2021

Big Housing Build

Ms RYAN (Euroa) (15:05): My question is to the Minister for Housing. With 24 hours to check, can the minister now guarantee the Parliament that all his regional housing announcements, other than Horsham, are indeed factual?

Mr WYNNE (Richmond—Minister for Planning, Minister for Housing) (15:05): Can I thank the member for Euroa for her question and her obvious keen interest in social and affordable housing in regional Victoria. Yesterday the Leader of The Nationals made some assertions in relation to a housing development at Horsham. He said:

… negotiations on this project collapsed last year.

This is false. This project was very much alive until recent days when the owner of the site decided not to proceed. He also said:

The developer no longer supports the project …

This is equally false. The developer was committed to this project before the owner of the site reneged on the sale a couple of days ago. This is not going well for you, member for Euroa; tune in. Indeed—

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! I know people are enjoying themselves in the chamber on both sides of the house, but I need to be able to hear a point of order.

Ms Kealy: On a point of order, Speaker, thank you very much. The minister is deliberately misleading the house. I have spoken to many people involved in this project who have confirmed that the time frames that he is reporting are absolutely, categorically incorrect.

The SPEAKER: That is not the correct way to raise an issue of deliberate misleading of the house.

Mr WYNNE: The developer was committed to the project before the owner reneged on the sale. Indeed they are already—this is the developer—‘exploring an alternative site in the area to deliver a similar project’.

It is very regrettable that that termination did occur, but the simple proposition is this: where does the Leader of the Opposition stand, where does the member for Euroa stand, where does the member for Lowan stand—

Ms Staley: On a point of order, Speaker, the minister is now debating the question.

The SPEAKER: I uphold the point of order. The minister to come back to answering the question.

Mr WYNNE: Absolutely I will be answering the question, because the 31 properties that we are proposing to build in Horsham will go to people in most need. I say to those opposite and particularly to those who seek to be supportive of mental health and women and children escaping domestic violence: who do you think these properties are for?

Ms Kealy: On a point of order, Speaker, again the minister is deliberately misleading the house—

The SPEAKER: Order! I ask the member for Lowan to resume her seat. It is not a point of order.

Mr WYNNE: Who do you think those properties are for? Women and children escaping domestic violence and people who are suffering the challenges of mental health. The commitment of this government is to continue to work with our contracted partner, Haven; Home, Safe, who we have a contract with to deliver this project in full, in Horsham, for the people who need it most—and you know it.

The SPEAKER: Order! Through the Chair.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Lowan has been warned.

Ms RYAN (Euroa) (15:10): The minister claims that Homes Victoria has 29 new homes under construction in East Gippsland and 34 new homes awaiting town planning approval. East Gippsland shire does not have planning application for 34 new homes from Homes Victoria or anyone else. How can Victorians trust government announcements on housing when—

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! When the house comes to order, I am going to ask the member for Euroa to repeat the question. I could not hear the question.

Ms RYAN: With pleasure. The minister claims that Homes Victoria has 29 new homes under construction in East Gippsland and 34 new homes awaiting town planning approval. East Gippsland shire does not have planning application for 34 new homes from Homes Victoria or anybody else. How can Victorians trust government announcements on housing when they are continually proving to be untrue?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! When the house comes to order. Members on both sides of the house!

Mr WYNNE (Richmond—Minister for Planning, Minister for Housing) (15:11): I thank the member for Euroa for her very timely question. To the member for Lowan: I did not say they were shovel ready.

Members interjecting.

Mr WYNNE: I did not. So in relation to planning for the Big Build projects, unfortunately the member for Euroa has obviously not kept pace with the planning scheme amendment that the government put in place to fast-track planning for public and social housing developments. We will consult with the local authorities, we will consult with local councils, but planning applications and approvals are in fact a matter for my colleague the minister for the environment up here—and here she is—not through local councils but through a fast-track planning process. You ought to get yourself briefed on what the process is. How about you come with us and support public and social housing for the poorest in our community, not seek to— (Time expired)