Mrs SALLY QUINNELL (Camden) (14:38): My question is addressed to the Premier. Will the Premier update the House on how the State budget continues the Minns Labor Government's work to address the housing crisis and build a better New South Wales?
Mr CHRIS MINNS (Kogarah—Premier) (14:38): I thank the member for her question. Many members would have seen a report that came out of America last week that ranked Sydney, for the second year in a row, as the second least affordable city in the world when it comes to housing after Hong Kong and before Vancouver. The Demographia International Housing Affordability 2024 report warned of an existential threat when it comes to the next generation of people living in this city. As a result of that report, undeniable field evidence from people in all communities and the experience of the next generation of young Australians, I am pleased to report that this budget is all about housing, the most critical threat affecting the people of New South Wales and the next generation of young Australians.
As a result of this budget, this Government will build, over the next four years, an additional 30,000 homes. That is as a result of the land audit across New South Wales, as well as significant investment in essential housing for those who work in our public services and the largest spend in social housing in the State's history. We have found that to be necessary because over the past 12 years the previous Government sold off assets or oversaw a net reduction of 13 per cent in public and social housing at the same time, as undeniable evidence suggests, that Sydney has become even more unaffordable, if that was even possible. This Government has made a decision to invest in housing—whether it is private housing, social housing, affordable housing or essential housing—for the people of this State.
Sixty per cent of the people on the priority social housing waiting list are women and children. One-third of people seeking urgent frontline homelessness services are there, in part, because of domestic violence in the home and 18,000 people, or 38 per cent, seeking specialists homeless services in particular faced family and domestic violence in their home. At least 50 per cent of the new social housing build in this State will go exclusively to domestic violence victim-survivors. It is a necessary investment for New South Wales, and it cannot wait another year. If you take into consideration that 13 per cent net reduction in social housing over 12 years, this Government has not got a moment to lose. The Productivity Commission reported several weeks ago that Sydney is at risk of losing 7,000 people between the ages of 30 and 40. [Extension of time]
In fact, the Productivity Commissioner warned that young people who would ordinarily stay in New South Wales and raise families, start businesses, join communities, coach soccer teams and join our public services are leaving the State and going to other jurisdictions. What they need is housing. The Government is making provision in this budget to build new houses for the next generation of young Australians, build social housing for those that fall through the social safety net and provide for those who are fleeing domestic and family violence.
A wise person who had worked for decades in domestic and family violence prevention in the State made the point to me and the Government that the single best intervention made by a government in 50 years when it comes to the prevention of domestic violence was the Whitlam Government's decision to introduce the single parent pension, because for the first time many women in particular felt that they had some money to leave the household and an unsafe situation. Undeniably the question facing many people in the same situation today is whether they will have a roof over their head. The Government initiatives in this budget will make a major difference to those families. I urge its passage in the Parliament this week.
