9th Aug 2017, 4:35 PM – Senate Committees - Homelessness - Long term, non-punitive plans

The majority voted in favour of a motion, which means it passed. Motions like these don't make any legal changes, but they can be politically influential, as they represent the will of the Senate.

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the most recent statistics from 2015-16 show that 275 requests for homelessness assistance were unable to be met each day,

(ii) an estimated 1.3 million households are unable to access private market housing or require financial assistance to avoid rental stress, and

(iii) the use of punitive powers against people sleeping rough costs taxpayers more in the long-run than providing long-term accommodation for homeless people; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to work with states and territories to:

(i) facilitate moves away from punitive approaches to dealing with homelessness, and

(ii) put increased emphasis in project plans under the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness on the provision of safe, stable, long-term accommodation for people experiencing homelessness.