❓ Hon Dr Brian Walker raises concerns about the public housing system, citing a recent arrest related to illegal housing offers and asking about waitlist numbers, average wait times, and the government's acknowledgement of systemic issues.
AnsweredQoN 304Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Public housing
304. Hon Dr Brian Walker to the parliamentary
secretary representing the Minister for Housing and Works:
I refer the minister
to a story that broke during our most recent recess concerning the arrest and
trial of a 55-year-old public servant accused of illegally offering a social housing
tenancy to her intimate partner. I ask the following, acknowledging that the
case remains before the courts.
(1) How many social housing applicants
are currently on a waiting list for accommodation and how many of those are
priority applications?
(2) Given that Shelter WA estimates a
three-year wait time while WA police, speaking to the media, indicated that a
five-year wait was not unusual, what is the government's estimate as to the
average wait time per applicant?
(3) Is it not
time for the Cook Labor government to acknowledge that the broken state housing
system is what is criminal, not the thousands of individuals trying to
navigate it to keep a roof over their heads?
The President: Long questions prevent your colleagues asking
their questions as well, and the last part of that question seems to be seeking
an opinion. I will see what the parliamentary secretary is able to provide.
304. Hon Dr Brian Walker to the parliamentary
secretary representing the Minister for Housing and Works:
I refer the minister
to a story that broke during our most recent recess concerning the arrest and
trial of a 55-year-old public servant accused of illegally offering a social housing
tenancy to her intimate partner. I ask the following, acknowledging that the
case remains before the courts.
(1) How many social housing applicants
are currently on a waiting list for accommodation and how many of those are
priority applications?
(2) Given that Shelter WA estimates a
three-year wait time while WA police, speaking to the media, indicated that a
five-year wait was not unusual, what is the government's estimate as to the
average wait time per applicant?
(3) Is it not
time for the Cook Labor government to acknowledge that the broken state housing
system is what is criminal, not the thousands of individuals trying to
navigate it to keep a roof over their heads?
The President: Long questions prevent your colleagues asking
their questions as well, and the last part of that question seems to be seeking
an opinion. I will see what the parliamentary secretary is able to provide.
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question. I provide the following
answer on behalf of the Minister for Housing and Works.
(1)–(3) As at 31 March 2026, there were 23,395
applications on the public housing waitlist statewide. This includes 8,114
priority applications. Wait times for public housing vary depending on the
availability and turnover of suitable properties in applicants' nominated zones
and according to their assessed housing requirements.
honourable member for some notice of the question. I provide the following
answer on behalf of the Minister for Housing and Works.
(1)–(3) As at 31 March 2026, there were 23,395
applications on the public housing waitlist statewide. This includes 8,114
priority applications. Wait times for public housing vary depending on the
availability and turnover of suitable properties in applicants' nominated zones
and according to their assessed housing requirements.
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