Housing Minister's silly game prompts complaint to Speaker

Housing Minister Phil Heatley’s continued ‘arrogance’ and obfuscation has prompted a complaint to the Speaker from Labour’s Housing spokesperson, Annette King.

“Mr Heatley is determined to ignore a growing crisis in the state housing sector.

“Reports of people living in garages, or in cars, of desperate families cramped into relatives’ homes or in living in damp and unhealthy homes, are becoming almost a daily occurrence.

“At the same time we have dozens of Housing NZ homes being demolished, moved, deemed earthquake prone, or sold off.

“Yet trying to find out exactly how widespread the problem is, or where best to target resources, is like pulling a large molar.

“Responses to questions put to Mr Heatley are either incoherent or completely irrelevant.

“His obfuscation and arrogance is appalling. Playing politics is one thing, being determined to undermine proper process is another.

“Whether it’s a cover-up for his incompetence, or the fact that he has no long-term plan and is unable to give any certainty to those families waiting for homes, the Minister needs to realise his silly game is actually impacting on the lives of some very vulnerable people.

“I can only hope my complaint to the Speaker prompts some action,” said Annette King.