The Australian Greens said today that they remain the only party with effective policies on the table to reduce the incidence of poverty in Western Australia.

The new WA Council of Social Service Cost Of Living Report released today shows that a lack of affordable housing, increased living costs and inadequate levels of income support are driving Western Australians below the poverty line, with job seekers, single parents and families on low or fixed incomes most at risk.

Greens Senator for WA Scott Ludlam, former Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown and NZ Greens spokesperson for Energy Gareth Hughes MP united with key members of the WA renewable energy industry today to warn against an attack on renewable energy policy following Saturday's Federal election.

"Every time Tony Abbott opens his mouth he is costing WA jobs and investment," Scott Ludlam, Greens Senator for Western Australia said at a joint press conference.

The Australian Greens will today launch a plan for energy and water efficiency upgrades to social housing that will improve the lives of one million Australians.

Greens housing spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said ‘Repowering Social Housing' will bring down the cost of living for those who need it most.

"The Greens' plan will put solar panels on the roof of every social housing home, will cut power bills for those who need it most, and will improve quality of life for the one million Australians living in social housing," said Senator Ludlam.

The Greens today launched a plan to address the affordable housing crisis by creating a new local prefabricated housing industry in WA's South West.

Greens Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam said the manufacture and installation of prefabricated housing made with local sustainable plantation timber will be a boost for local jobs, while delivering much-needed housing.

Senator Ludlam made the announcement today in Bunbury, home to WA's largest pine sawmill at Dardanup.

The Greens launched an $842 million plan today to deliver express bus services, a new for old replacement fleet of hybrid electric buses, and a new dedicated freight rail line in Western Australia.

Greens Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam said the initiative commits $300 million to providing express bus services and bus rapid transit to 15 hot spots in the metropolitan area, spanning some 60km - including Express Bus Services for Ellenbrook - linking into a North Eastern Bus Rapid Transit Corridor.

2013-14 Budget Estimates Hearings

Outcome Number: 2 Question No: 116

The Greens put housing affordability at the centre of the election campaign today with a plan to deliver 85,000 new rental homes and ease the pressure on Australian renters.

Greens housing spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam - who is also a renter - said the almost one in three Australians who rent have been ignored by the old parties.

"The old parties need to face the facts - Australia is now a nation of renters. There are 2.4 million households in one of the most stretched rental markets in the world. Renters shouldn't be treated like second class citizens.

Hansard Page: 03/06/2013 - CA112-113
Senator Ludlam asked:
Of the NRAS incentives that have already been signed from previous rounds, is it possible to identify what proportion allocated complied with various standards of universal design against Commonwealth benchmarks?
Answer:
The Department is unable to provide information on the proportion of NRAS incentives allocated that comply with various standards of universal design against Commonwealth benchmarks, without an unreasonable diversion of resources.

Senator Ludlam asked:
Could you provide a break down by state of where the states stand now in meeting the COAG agreed commitments to transfer 35 per cent of housing stock into the community sector by 2014?
Answer:
In May 2009 Housing Ministers agreed to develop, over time, a large scale community housing sector in Australia comprising up to 35 per cent of social housing by 2014.

Senator Ludlam asked:

Could you provide an estimate, to a baseline year of 2020, of how many dwellings you would need to get back up to 5 per cent of all stock?

Answer:

The National Housing Supply Council estimated that by 2020 the total stock of occupied dwellings would be 10,390,800 (National Housing Supply Council 2011 Report Table A2.5). For the stock of occupied social housing to represent 5 per cent of all occupied dwellings the size of the social housing sector would need to be 519,540 occupied dwellings.