Wednesday, 23 February 2022

Social and affordable housing

Mr DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan—Leader of the Opposition) (12:04): My matter is for the attention of the Minister for Local Government, and I refer to the article in the Herald Sun today which says the government’s social housing rate exemption—

The PRESIDENT: Your question, Mr Davis, not your matter.

Mr DAVIS: Yes, that is right, my question. I refer to the article in the Herald Sun today which says the government’s social housing rate exemption modelling prepared for the Yarra council warns of an average rate rise of up to $79 per property in 2026–27. The article goes on to set out total increases in rates at full implementation of the government’s policy: Moonee Valley, $51; Darebin, $50; Hume, $32; and Casey, $22. Minister, the Premier said the average annual rate increases will be just $8, and you repeated that yesterday. The fact is, though, Minister, that in some council areas that have much larger numbers of social housing properties the thump is likely to be much greater. The question is: did you mislead the house yesterday?

Mr LEANE (Eastern Metropolitan—Minister for Local Government, Minister for Suburban Development, Minister for Veterans) (12:06): That was kind of weird. No, I did not—

Mr Davis interjected.

Mr LEANE: I am answering your question. No, I did not mislead the house. I gave an example of some areas where that may be the figure that may be passed on, not necessarily passed on, and on a potential initiative that has been discussed and consulted on that we have not even had the bill on yet. So we are talking about something that was announced as an initiative.

Mr Davis interjected.

Mr LEANE: I know why you are called shadow ministers now, because you just jump at shadows. You are jumping at shadows on an issue where you have not seen the detail, and then you are quoting detail to me. I respect peak bodies, I respect unions and I respect individual councils airing their concerns, and I always make myself available. If they have got concerns about any issue, I make myself available. I have said before that I thought that when you became a minister everyone never disagrees with you and treats you like something special, but I can tell you that with the local government sector and the players in the local government sector that is far from the truth. They are not shy in indicating to me if they have got a concern. So, as I said, I pride myself on making myself available to the local government sector to listen to their concerns.

Mr DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan—Leader of the Opposition) (12:08): That was one of the strangest rambles we have heard in a while, and I ask, therefore, a very simple question: when will the bill that brings forward the holiday for rates for social housing come into effect?

Mr LEANE (Eastern Metropolitan—Minister for Local Government, Minister for Suburban Development, Minister for Veterans) (12:08): I suppose that is a question for the Leader of the House in the Assembly and the Leader of the Government in this chamber about that sequence. I feel that I am ill equipped to answer this question.

Members interjecting.

Mr LEANE: It is like this stereo thing. Some days you earn your money, don’t you, seriously. I will be up-front, President. If you decide that I need to get a response on this, I will respect that, but I will say to you that this is not my responsibility. I am always honest when I feel I am ill equipped to respond to a question.