Senate debates

Thursday, 15 June 2017

12:27 pm

Photo of Lee RhiannonLee Rhiannon (NSW, Australian Greens) | | Hansard source

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

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the most recent statistics from 2015-16 show that 275 requests for homelessness assistance were unable to be met each day, and

  (ii) the Government has failed to raise real levels of federal funding for homelessness services and social housing in the 2017-18 Budget; and

(b) calls on the Government to provide real support for people who are homeless by increasing the real level of funding for homelessness services and social housing.

12:28 pm

Photo of James McGrathJames McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) | | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Photo of Sue LinesSue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) | | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Photo of James McGrathJames McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) | | Hansard source

The previous Labor-Greens alliance left not a single dollar in the budget for the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness. The coalition allocated funding when it came to government, and in this budget we announced that funding for the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness would be increased, indexed and rolled into a new $1.5 billion housing agreement. This provides homelessness providers with ongoing funding security for the first time.

Question agreed to.