Media Release by Senator the Hon Nigel Scullion

Government calls on input from Townsville community

The Australian Government will be consulting with the Townsville community about the best way forward to provide both supported accommodation for people with disability and social housing for north Queensland.

Minister for Community Services, Senator Nigel Scullion and Member for Herbert Peter Lindsay today revealed the public consultation session following the Australian Government’s announcement of a $562 million supported accommodation package.

‘The Government is aware that the level of unmet need for supported accommodation and respite care is causing distress for many carers, particularly older carers who have been caring for a son or daughter with disability for a long time now.

‘Over five years, there will be around 1750 new places for people with severe and profound disabilities, with priority for those aged forty years and over who are currently cared for by a parent who is 65 years or over,’ Senator Scullion said.

‘Public consultations will be held in Townsville in mid-September and across the rest of the country in September and October, to assist in establishing new supported accommodation places,’ Mr Lindsay said.

‘The Government will be consulting service providers, people with disability and their carers in the Townsville community in order to boost the supply of accommodation for people with disability,’ Mr Lindsay said.

Senator Scullion said The Australian Government has also invited expressions of interest from state and territory governments, the non-government sector and the private sector for proposals and ideas on new and innovative approaches to using the available funds to increase housing supply.

‘We want to ensure funding for public and community housing is used more effectively. We have in the past provided money solely to the state Governments but the number of public houses has actually gone backwards. There’s got to be a better way,’ Senator Scullion said.

Submissions for social housing supply will close on 28 September 2007. Further information can be obtained by emailing Social Housing (socialhousing@facsia.gov.au) or call 1800 047 482.