Minister for Housing, the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP announced on 16 June 2009 that the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family, Community, Housing and Youth will hold an inquiry into homelessness legislation.
The announcement follows the Rudd Government’s Homelessness White Paper – which provides an additional $1.2 billion over four years as a down payment on a 12 year reform agenda to halve homelessness by 2020.
The White Paper noted the Government’s intention to introduce new legislation to replace the Supported Accommodation Assistance Act 1994.
Submissions addressing the terms of reference are being sought by the committee by Friday 14 August 2009. Terms of reference and Committee guidance for making submissions can be found on the Committee's page on the Parliament of Australia website.
The Committee will report by December 2009 to allow consideration of outcomes of the Australian Government’s National Human Rights Consultation, which is due to report at the end of August.