Media Releases by The Hon Brendan O'Connor MP
Abbott ignores housing affordability and homeless
Tony Abbott demonstrated his lack of understanding of the real pressures facing Australian families and households with his failure to mention housing affordability or homelessness…
Housing Minister meets happy tenant
A Gillard Government initiative is saving Austins Ferry pensioner Carleen Jacobson almost $3,400 on rent each year. Minister for Housing and Homelessness Brendan O’Connor today…
Social Housing Initiative creates jobs, is value for money
An independent review of the Social Housing Initiative has found it is well-administered, value for money and has achieved excellent outcomes for vulnerable Australians, the…
Australians in New Affordable Homes for Christmas
24 December 2012 Thousands of families across the country are preparing to spend their first Christmas in a new, secure, affordable home built with Gillard…
Nomination time extended for Homelessness Services Awards
Australians will have more time to nominate outstanding services for the second National Homelessness Services Achievement Awards, with the nomination period extended until 1 February…
New homes for vulnerable people in Red Hill
The Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Brendan O’Connor, and Senator for Queensland, Mark Furner, today welcomed tenants to a new housing development in Red Hill,…
Moving people from the street into homes
A new report released today challenges a common assumption that chronically homeless people choose their way of life and do not want the help of…
Significant progress made in helping vulnerable Australians
Minister for Housing and Homelessness Brendan O’Connor today welcomed new research showing real and substantial progress has been made in helping vulnerable Australians access homelessness…
Learning the lessons – Tackling homelessness in New York City
Minister for Housing and Homelessness Brendan O’Connor today visited Bowery Mission in New York City to see first-hand how the innovative service is tackling homelessness.…
Helping turn the tide for victims of Superstorm Sandy
Minister for Housing and Homelessness Brendan O’Connor today joined Ambassador Kim Beazley at the Australian Embassy in Washington to help raise funds for victims of…
Homelessness, small business on agenda for US
Federal Minister for Housing, Homelessness and Small Business Brendan O’Connor is in the United States this week for a series of meetings and visits with…
Rapid rehousing helps break the cycle of homelessness
A Rapid Rehousing project launched today will help 180 people secure long-term housing in Penrith, Mount Druitt and Coffs Harbour with the help of a…
Breaking the cycle of homelessness through intensive support
A new project has found that tailored, intensive, long-term support has helped to change the lives of those experiencing chronic homelessness. The Minister for Housing…
Grants ballot for new affordable homes in Bendigo
From tomorrow, 28 families participating in a ballot for grants worth more than $38,000 will choose their block of land in Viewpoint Huntly, thanks to…
Domestic Violence Study: Women and Their Children Need to Stay In the Family Home
New research into domestic violence and homelessness has found that as many as one in two women who leave an abusive relationship will return to…
New housing opens in Atherton Gardens
Minister for Housing and Homelessness Brendan O’Connor today officially opened 152 apartments in Fitzroy, built with a $43.3 million investment from the Gillard Government’s Housing…
Release of Consultation Paper on The Royal Commission Into Child Abuse
Attorney General Nicola Roxon and Acting Minister for Families Brendan O’Connor today announced the Government has released a consultation paper to inform the Terms of…
Ministers agree to ongoing commitment to tackle homelessness
Minister for Housing and Homelessness Brendan O’Connor today congratulated his State and Territory counterparts for agreeing to an ongoing commitment to work together to tackle…
Stories of lost childhoods permanently recorded on third anniversary of Apology
From today, a comprehensive record of personal stories from more than 200 Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants will have a permanent place in the…
Report links child abuse, homelessness and juvenile crime
Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Brendan O’Connor, and Minister for Community Services and the Status of Women, Julie Collins, today welcomed new research which sheds…
Gillard Government commits to continuing homelessness funding
Federal Minister for Housing and Homelessness Brendan O’Connor today announced that the Gillard Government will approach the States and Territories to negotiate a new homelessness…
New website to support seniors online
Older Australians now have greater access to training resources and information to help them get online with the Australian Government’s new Broadband for Seniors website.…
ABS figures show a reduction in the number of rough sleepers
Minister for Housing and Homelessness Brendan O’Connor reaffirmed the Gillard Government’s commitment to tackling homelessness following today’s release of the latest data on homelessness by…
Father Bob finds new home in South Melbourne
Retired priest and well-known local resident Father Bob Maguire has found a new home next door to his beloved Sts Peter and Paul Church in…
Helping those who help others in Queensland
Local community organisations in Queensland are among 4,800 across Australia to benefit from the Gillard Government’s $16 million Volunteer Grants 2012 initiative. Minister for Housing…