Chapter:
15 - Housing
Mover:
Michael Hiscox
Seconder:
Zachary Smith
 
 
Source:
Union: CFMEU
My Private Notes


Preamble
​The state of public housing in the ACT is shameful. There are simply not enough houses available
to meet demand, and current public housing stock is not fit for purpose. Currently, more that 3,100
people are on the waitlist for public housing in Canberra, with an average wait time of 5 years.

The condition of Canberra’s public housing is unacceptable. The ACT has the lowest rate of public
housing that meets minimum energy and heating and cooling standards in the country.

Public housing tenants are forced to live in substandard conditions. Residents report major safety
issues in their homes such as collapsing retaining walls, faulty smoke detectors, and exposed
wiring being left for months without any sign of being fixed. Desperate residents are waiting
months to hear back about urgent repairs. In some cases, they never receive a response.

Currently, the ACT Government relies on private contractors for maintenance repairs. These
private contractors are failing to fulfil their basic duties, leaving residents in deplorable living
conditions reminiscent of third-world countries. This negligence is utterly unacceptable.

We know that the private sector cannot be trusted to deliver social services, it must be the role of
Government. To address the public housing crisis in Canberra, the ACT Government must step up
and directly build and maintain public housing.
General Resolution

Investing in ACT Public Housing

​1. ACT Labor Conference calls on the ACT Labor Government to insource the maintenance of public housing in the ACT and cease the use of private third-party contractors. The ACT Labor Government must directly employ workers to maintain its public housing stock. The ACT Labor Government must initiate the insourcing process before the end of 2024.

2. ACT Labor Conference calls on the ACT Labor Government to invest in more public housing in the ACT and increase the number of new public houses available.

3. ACT Labor Conference calls on the ACT Labor Government to act as a developer in the construction of new public housing, instead of engaging private developers.
a. The ACT Government will investigate the government-developer scheme used in Singapore that has provided homes for 80% of Singapore's residents as a potential model
b. The ACT Government as a developer will grow public housing stock across the ACT, providing quality homes for Canberrans in need.