THE Canberra Liberals will use an Estimates Hearing today (September 2) to question the ACT government over it’s shortfall in funding for public housing.

Shadow Minister for Housing Mark Parton says that across three budget periods from 2015-2018, $699 million of investment in public housing was promised, but only $80 million was appropriated through to 2020.

Despite raising the issue in July, Parton says that Housing Minister Yvette Berry has still not explained where the money has gone.

“To this point, the Minister has only hurled insults at the Canberra Liberals, instead of addressing the very basic question of where the money has gone,” Parton said.

“We know that money raised through the asset recycling program where public housing dwellings were solid off to receive a 15 percent Commonwealth top up that went into the light rail project.

“The Minister has failed to provide any clear figures that show how much revenue the Labor-Greens government received from selling housing stock and where that money went.”

Parton says public housing stock has fallen significantly in recent years, with a report indicating there were 11,063 public housing dwellings in 2011 but only 10,859 in 2021.

“We currently have 3060 Canberrans on the public housing waitlist and with all the money that has been promised by the Labor-Greens government why has that not resulted in an increase in houses for people who need it?” he said.

“Either this Minister has no idea where money is being spent in her portfolio or she is not being upfront with Canberrans.”