On 22 May 2008, the Prime Minister, The Hon Kevin Rudd MP and former Minister for Housing, Tanya Plibersek MP released the Green Paper and invited public discussion and written contributions to inform the development of the White Paper. The White Paper will set out the Government's national plan of action in this area to 2020.
- Launch of Which Way Home? - A New Approach to Homelessness - Prime Minister's speech
- Government Launches Homelessness Green Paper - Former Minister for Housing, Tanya Plibersek media release
The Green Paper (which is called Which Way Home? A New Approach to Homelessness) is available as a full report or summary (which provides an overview of the options).
Written submissions
Written submissions to the Homelessness Green Paper closed 5pm EST, Friday 27 June, 2008.
During the public consultation process, the Government confirmed that the written submissions would be publicly available unless identified as confidential by the individual or organisation. The Government received almost 600 written submissions both on-line through the website and hardcopy by email or mail.
For public release of submissions, the individual and organisation had to agree to the submission being publicly released or requested that it remain confidential. A list of individuals and organisations that agreed to public release of their submission is below.
To enable timely access to the submissions and conform to legislative guidelines, the department will send submissions in hardcopy. To receive a copy of a submission(s) please call 1800 774 055.
- View the Green Paper submissions
- Outcomes of the public consultation process - Homelessness Green Paper - Which Way Home: A new approach to homelessness
Green Paper development
To oversee the development of the new approach, an expert steering group was appointed by the Prime Minister, chaired by Tony Nicholson, Executive Director, Brotherhood of St Lawrence, and assisted by Heather Nancarrow, Director Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence, and Anna Buduls, company director and philanthropist.
To inform the development of the Green Paper, Homelessness Australia hosted a Homelessness Roundtable on 28 March 2008. Over 100 stakeholders attended from a variety of organisations and covering all States and Territories. They included peak homeless, health, social housing, youth and welfare agencies, homeless service providers, state, territory and local government agencies, academics and Indigenous organisations. The discussion provided valuable ideas and innovative approaches for inclusion in the Green Paper.