16/11/01
The Labor Government had relaxed the housing assistance guidelines for Temporary Protection Visa (TPV) holders to be in line with other States, Housing and Works Minister Tom Stephens said today.
In response to a question in Parliament by the Opposition Spokesperson on Housing, who questioned the policy change, Mr Stephens said the Government was proud to have been able to offer humanitarian support to refugees.
He said changes were made by the new Government in April because Western Australia was the only State Government at that time to provide no assistance at all to TPVs.
"The Government also wanted to grant these people the same status as other citizens without residency," the Minister said.
"The immigrants were being released into the community with minimal support, and the previous government's stance was that the then Ministry of Housing should not provide any assistance.
"Our Government is mindful of the compassionate grounds of this situation."
Mr Stephens said the policy of the Department of Housing and Works was that the Class 785 TPV holders were granted the same status as other citizens without residency, and permitted to accrue time on the rental waiting list until their status was determined.
They could not gain public housing access without permanent residency status. However, they were eligible for a bond assistance loan to help them obtain private rental accommodation.
Mr Stephens said Homeswest's bond assistance program also offered valuable support to eligible applicants to assist them to meet the cost of the bond on private rental accommodation.
"It is provided to people who would not otherwise have the funds to meet the cost of the up-front bond needed to rent private accommodation," he said.
"The repayable bond gave people the option of accessing private rental accommodation, as opposed to going on a public housing list - or alternatively, to allow them to rent privately while waiting for public housing assistance."
The bond assistance has a maximum range of $320 for a single person to $620 for a couple with four or more children.
Media contact: Julie Cole 9213 6500
