Penny Wright (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senator Ludlam, move:

That the Senate—

  (a)   notes that:

     (i)   the week 6 August to 12 August 2012 was national Homeless Persons' Week, and

     (ii)   on any given night in Australia, approximately 105 000 people are experiencing homelessness;

  (b)   recognises that:

     (i)   mental illness is both a cause and consequence of homelessness, and

     (ii)   the Australian Council of Social Service's Community Sector Survey 2012 recently highlighted that the availability of secure and affordable housing, and care and treatment for mental illness, are the greatest areas of need for people experiencing poverty and disadvantage in Australia; and

  (c)   calls on the Government to consider and respond to underfunding, funding uncertainty and unmet need in the homelessness and mental health sectors.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a brief statement.

Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Gillard government know that there are too many Australians who are homeless. This is the Labor government that made reducing homelessness a national priority through our inaugural white paper on homelessness, which makes it clear we want to halve overall homelessness and by 2020 provide supported accommodation to all rough sleepers who seek it. To back our commitment, the government have invested an unprecedented $5 billion into supporting homeless people and services through programs since 2008. The government have been working with states and territories, business, charities and the community to reduce homelessness in Australia through our $1.1 billion national partnership agreement on homelessness, which is delivering 180 new, expanded homelessness services. The Labor government have also invested a record $2.2 billion in a mental health reform package. Since being elected the government have invested a record $20 billion in making housing more affordable.

Penny Wright (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Penny Wright (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I note that last week, from 6 to 12 August 2012, it was National Homeless Persons Week and on any given night in Australia approximately 105,000 people are experiencing homelessness. We know that mental illness is both a cause and a consequence of homelessness, and the Australian Council of Social Service Australian Community Sector Survey 2012recently highlighted the availability of secure and affordable housing, care and treatment for mental illness as being the greatest areas of need for people experiencing poverty and disadvantage in Australia. Notwithstanding the minister's comments, we are calling on the government to consider and respond to the underfunding, the funding uncertainty and the unmet need in the homelessness and mental health sectors which were identified in that survey and have continually been identified to a further extent to deal with this debilitating problem that faces so many people in Australia today.

Question agreed to.