South Australia Shadow Minister for Housing Stephen Wade

700 extra families in public housing

Victor P Taffa

More than 700 South Australian families will be housed under an Isobel Redmond Government – no longer lingering on Housing SA’s waiting list.

Announcing the Liberals’ policy, Shadow Minister for Housing Stephen Wade said that through a reform of Housing SA, over 700 currently vacant public houses would be made available to families across the state.

“Housing SA is a mess – under the Rann Government almost 1700 properties stand empty.” Mr Wade said.

“Poor management of tenancies, properties and redevelopments mean that hundreds more houses sit vacant in South Australia than elsewhere in Australia.”

“Under the Rann Government, the number of vacant Housing SA properties has blown out to 4%, almost twice the vacancy rate of public housing authorities around Australia, which average a vacancy rate of just over 2%.

“In real terms, this means that almost 1700 homes are left vacant while thousands of South Australians remain on the Housing SA waiting list.”Mr. Wade said.

“If we brought our vacancy rate down just to the national average for public housing authorities around Australia, an additional 721 families could be given a home.”

“Under an Isobel Redmond Liberal Government, we will reform Housing SA by efficiently managing properties and tenants with a target of reducing vacancy rates to the national average.”

“The Liberal Party believes it is totally unacceptable for over 700 families who could otherwise be housed to be left waiting due to the Rann Government’s mismanagement of Housing SA.” Mr. Wade said.

The Liberal housing policy also includes:

• Enforcing a genuine “three strikes” policy for Housing SA tenants;

• Ensuring properly notified inspections proceed even in the absence of the tenant.

“The Rann Government has failed to manage social housing properly. South Australia needs results, not spin.”

Under the provisions of the relevant Electoral Act responsibility for all election comment is assumed by Editor Victor P Taffa. The Registered office of The Southern Thunderer is at 4/69a Darvall Road, West Ryde NSW 2114.