SA: State ministers warn about action on housing agreement

AAP General News (Australia)
08-24-2007
SA: State ministers warn about action on housing agreement

ADELAIDE, Aug 24 AAP - State and territory housing ministers say a federal government
plan to scrap the commonwealth-states housing agreement will destroy 60 years of cooperation.

The ministers have written to Families and Community Services Minister Mal Brough saying
the plan will hurt those most in need.

Mr Brough has warned he would redirect federal funding to the private sector because
the current system was not working.

South Australian Housing Minister Jay Weatherill said the announcement represented
an extremist policy on the future of social housing.

"The Howard government plans to force the states to compete against the private sector
in the delivery of social housing," Mr Weatherill said.

"The plan will not only make it more difficult for battling families to get access
to affordable rental housing, but will jeopardise the system for those already in it."

Mr Weatherill said since 1996 the commonwealth had slashed funding to South Australia
through the housing agreement by 36 per cent.

He said this had been a significant factor in forcing the state government to reduce
the number of houses it rented out to low-income earners.

"For years state and territory housing ministers have been calling on the federal government
to work in partnership with us to increase the supply of affordable housing," Mr Weatherill
said.

"We remain 100 per cent committed to a national housing agreement."

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KEYWORD: HOUSING

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