House debates Questions without Notice
Parkes Electorate: Public Housing
Mark Coulton Parkes, National Party
3:01 pm
My question is to the Minister for Social Services. I refer the minister to reports in the Moree Championof 4 March 2014 that at least 20 units of public housing are sinking into the ground. What caused the situation, and what is the government's response?
Kevin Andrews Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services
I thank the member for Parkes for his question. I acknowledge his great representation in this place of that large area of central and western New South Wales.
Indeed, I have seen the report that the honourable member refers to about public housing built in Moree under the previous Labor government's so-called Nation Building Program. That report indicated that many of these 62 units are actually falling apart. They are falling apart. The foundations are collapsing into the drainage and sewerage systems, windows are cracking—so much so that many of the 62 residents of those new units, funded by the previous Labor government, are having to move away from Moree to towns all over New South Wales because there is insufficient public housing.
In fact, why did this happen? This happened because—
Mr Brendan O'Connor interjecting—
Kevin Andrews Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services
This happened because the units were built without council approval in Moree's notoriously shifty black soil. That is why it occurred. What the mayor of the local council had to say about it was:
… we fought like mad to stop it. We had no say in their design or construction. Normally council has to check all footings and the depth of concrete ... we were disturbed with the designs we saw but they just pushed us to the side.
It was the worst arrogance we’ve ever seen.
I was wondering, given that this was funded by the previous Labor government, who might have been responsible?
Honourable members interjecting—
Of course they have six choices because they had six ministers responsible for housing under the previous Labor government. But I will give you a hint—this one over here! Yes, you would be right if you said it was the hapless member for Sydney!
Honourable members interjecting—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
Order! The minister will resume his seat. There is far too much noise in the chamber!
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. It should not be in order for the person responsible for deporting Hanif to talk about people being hapless.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
Order! If the Manger of Opposition Business abuses points of order in that way again he will leave the chamber.
Kevin Andrews Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services
What we find is not only her incompetent administration of the GP Super Clinics—
Ms MacTiernan interjecting—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The member for Perth! The member for Perth is warned!
Kevin Andrews Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services
and her incompetent administration of the NRAS program but now her incompetent administration of the public housing program—
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order, and it goes to relevance. No-one on this side of the House was ever the New South Wales state housing minister, and that is what he is referring to.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
There is no point of order. The member will resume his seat.
Kevin Andrews Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services
I tell you what, it is just as well she was not in charge of the immigration program.
Opposition members interjecting—
The reality is—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The member—
Honourable members interjecting—
Order! The question has been asked. The minister is answering it and has the call.
Kevin Andrews Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services
The reality is, millions of dollars have been wasted. These units are falling apart. Millions of dollars will probably have to be spent to refix them. Just another Labor mess!