Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Parkes for his question. I acknowledge his great representation in this place of that large area of central and western New South Wales.

Indeed, I have seen the report that the honourable member refers to about public housing built in Moree under the previous Labor government's so-called Nation Building Program. That report indicated that many of these 62 units are actually falling apart. They are falling apart. The foundations are collapsing into the drainage and sewerage systems, windows are cracking—so much so that many of the 62 residents of those new units, funded by the previous Labor government, are having to move away from Moree to towns all over New South Wales because there is insufficient public housing.

In fact, why did this happen? This happened because—

Mr Brendan O'Connor interjecting—

Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This happened because the units were built without council approval in Moree's notoriously shifty black soil. That is why it occurred. What the mayor of the local council had to say about it was:

… we fought like mad to stop it. We had no say in their design or construction. Normally council has to check all footings and the depth of concrete ... we were disturbed with the designs we saw but they just pushed us to the side.

It was the worst arrogance we’ve ever seen.

I was wondering, given that this was funded by the previous Labor government, who might have been responsible?

Honourable members interjecting—

Of course they have six choices because they had six ministers responsible for housing under the previous Labor government. But I will give you a hint—this one over here! Yes, you would be right if you said it was the hapless member for Sydney!

Honourable members interjecting—

Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What we find is not only her incompetent administration of the GP Super Clinics—

Ms MacTiernan interjecting—

Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

and her incompetent administration of the NRAS program but now her incompetent administration of the public housing program—

Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I tell you what, it is just as well she was not in charge of the immigration program.

Opposition members interjecting—

The reality is—

Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The reality is, millions of dollars have been wasted. These units are falling apart. Millions of dollars will probably have to be spent to refix them. Just another Labor mess!