Media Statements - National housing focus on Perth

5/09/05

The housing focus will be firmly on Perth next month with more than 500 delegates from around the world and Australia attending the fourth annual National Housing Conference.

Housing and Works Minister Francis Logan said the enormous interest in the conference was an indication by the housing sector that fundamental social, political and economic changes posed crucial new challenges.

“Australian society is moving away from a singular population structure with the traditional nuclear family at its core,” Mr Logan said.

“Instead, our population is becoming increasingly diverse, with varying demands for an ever increasing range of different household structures.”

The Minister said the conference would be held at the Perth Convention Centre from October 27-28 with ‘Building for Diversity’ as its central theme.

“This diversity is being driven by population growth, an ageing ‘baby boomer’ generation close to retirement and the changing housing demands of successive generations as they make the transition through various housing arrangements from cradle to grave,” he said.

Mr Logan said the issues to be raised at the conference were applicable to Western Australia’s housing situation, particularly those associated with indigenous housing, first-home ownership, affordable housing and the challenges faced by the public and community housing sectors.

“The conference has been organised into four specific streams which will run concurrently over the two days, thereby appealing to the widest possible range of housing interests,” he said.

The four streams are:

changing socio-demographics: discussions and forums will consider affordable housing and housing for the aged and for people with disabilities;

planning and design diversity: the challenges faced by designers and architects to come up with new housing models to meet the demands for new diversity. Speakers will address a number of issues, including urban renewal;

indigenous Australians: delegates will discuss options aimed at encouraging indigenous home ownership; and

public and community housing: these sessions will consider alternative funding sources for public and community housing.

For further information on the program and registration details visit http://www.nationalhousingconference.org.au

Minister's office: 9222 8950