By LAURA WAKELY
BRIMBANK has the highest public housing waiting list in the West, with more than 3000 people waiting for housing.
The June quarter figures reveal 3688 people were on the waiting list for the Sunshine housing office, 178 less people than the March quarter.
There are also 720 people waiting to be transferred from one form of public housing to another.
The waiting list has dropped by three per cent across the entire North West metropolitan region since March, with 13,849 people on the list.
Housing Minister Wendy Lovell admitted there was still “work to do” but said the waiting list had fallen by 4272 people since the Baillieu Government came to power in November 2010.
“Labor’s legacy after 11 years in government was soaring public housing waiting lists and a massive maintenance backlog, but our better management of vacant property is paying off,” Ms Lovell said.
“We have reviewed vacancy rates, turnover procedures and times, and are working harder with applicants who have been waiting the longest.
But Shadow Housing Minister Richard Wynne said the Coalition was taking credit for the Federal Government’s $1 billion stimulus package for public and social housing.
“In contrast, the Baillieu Government’s lack of investment in public housing will place further pressure on the waiting lists, now that the Federal investment has come to an end,” Mr Wynne said.
“Ms Lovell has done nothing when it comes to investing in new or improved
public housing. She has ridden on the coat tails of the Federal Government for nearly 20
months, but her free ride has come to an end.”
