Wednesday, 18 October 2023

Commonwealth Games

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:06): (306) My question is to the Minister for Housing. Minister, what briefings did you, as minister, receive from the Office of the Commonwealth Games in relation to the revision of budgets for the athletes village and therefore legacy housing?

The PRESIDENT: I am struggling with whether that comes under the ministerial responsibilities of Minister Shing currently.

Harriet Shing interjected.

David DAVIS: No, I am asking you. I just note that on 1 August 2023 Ms Shing said:

I am trying to assist here, Ms Crozier. I am really happy to provide the chamber with information and assistance around the Commonwealth Games … legacy components …

You are still the Minister for Housing.

The PRESIDENT: That did not help. Mr Davis, I will give you the opportunity to rephrase your question if you like.

David DAVIS: Have you received any briefings since the change of portfolios regarding the budgets that impact on housing?

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Housing, Minister for Water, Minister for Equality) (12:08): Have I received any briefings on the budget as it relates to housing?

Ingrid Stitt: Budgets.

Harriet SHING: Sorry. Thank you, Minister Stitt. I will take that point: budgets relating to housing. Well, the answer to that, Mr Davis, is that since taking the portfolio of housing I have received numerous briefings on the budgets as they relate to housing, as one would hope to be the case in relation to a portfolio where we have made a record investment into social housing across the state. In fact one of the first briefings that I got, Mr Davis, related to the $5.3 billion invested in social housing across the state to make sure that this nation-leading reform in providing at least 12,000 social housing units around the state is delivered and to make sure that we are also providing housing within that allocation to assist with victim-survivors of family violence, to assist with people living with mental illness, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and rural, regional and remote communities, as well as making sure of course – and you would be aware of this, Mr Davis – that we redevelop those 44 tower sites to make sure that on those sites we are not just delivering an uplift of 10 per cent in public and social housing but also modernising the places that people can call home so that they are accessible, so that they are bright, so that they are modern, so that they are energy-efficient and so that people are part of their communities.

Another budget briefing that I got, Mr Davis, related to the additional $1 billion that is going into social housing across regional Victoria. That $1 billion of additional investment is for at least 1300 units of social housing to be delivered in rural and regional Victoria. To that end, Mr Davis, that brings the total housing in the social housing portfolio, and my work as housing minister, to at least 13,300 units.

I also want to make sure, Mr Davis, that we are not giving you any false sense of conclusion on that, because my colleague Minister Tierney is also working alongside the housing portfolio to the tune of $150 million in regional worker accommodation. This sits alongside the housing statement, Mr Davis, which you would also be aware has been discussed at length – those affordability partnerships, the reform to renters and tenants acts and opportunities, the way in which we are making sure that planning approvals are streamlined, the work that we are doing across precinct development. Mr Davis, there is a lot to be talking about here across budgets, and what it does do is far outstrip anything that you or your government or any government held by the coalition around Australia has ever delivered. I am always happy to keep talking about that as it relates to my housing portfolio.

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:11): Allen Garner, the former CEO of the Office of the Commonwealth Games, testified to the parliamentary committee that he briefed Minister Shing regularly. He said:

… we would look at villages and issues with villages, and the meeting might be about the planning issues or it might be about the scope or the number.

…

There were briefings in regard to the increasing costs.

But my question is different to that, and my question is: in those briefings that the minister has now referred to in her main answer, did any of those relate to legacy housing?

The PRESIDENT: I am a bit confused, but I will let the minister answer as she sees fit.

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Housing, Minister for Water, Minister for Equality) (12:12): You are not the only one, President, who is slightly confused by the gymnastic pivot that Mr Davis has just attempted and failed somewhat miserably to land. Mr Davis, the work that we are doing within the regional package that we pivoted to immediately on 18 July is about delivering an additional $1 billion for at least 1300 units of social housing in rural and regional Victoria.