6. Emergency Housing—FundingPRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN (Labour) to the Minister of Housing and Urban DevelopmentEmergency Housing—Funding6. PRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN (Labour) to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development: Has he been informed of any funding problems in emergency and transitional housing?Hon PHIL TWYFORD (Minister of Housing and Urban Development): Thank you Mr Speaker. Since becoming Minister I've learnt that recent Budgets left some ticking time bombs in the provision of emergency and transitional housing. Housing first: the agreed approach to dealing with chronic homelessness has less than half the funding per place that it needs. Over $50 million has been spent on putting homeless people up in motels when only $2 million a year was forecast and funding for a hundred front-line staff for emergency and transitional housing runs out at the end of this financial year. This underfunding helped the previous Government's Budget projections look better but it didn't reflect the real costs of the policies.Priyanca Radhakrishnan: Why does funding for a hundred front-line housing staff run out at the end of this financial year?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Well in 2016 a hundred more front-line staff were hired in response to the growing number of families facing homelessness. But the funding for these staff was not made permanent in Budget 2017. Because of this money for one-third—Hon Simon Bridges: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I just go back to where we were last week. He doesn't have responsibility for this and this answer is almost entirely based on what happened—in his view anyway—in the last Government.Hon Iain Lees-Galloway: Point of order.Mr SPEAKER: No I'm very happy and I refer the member to Speaker's ruling 159/2. The Minister can address the activities of a previous Government if he is required to take some action as a result of that. And unless there's a new fact that we're missing out on I think Mr Twyford has probably finished his supplementary answer.Priyanca Radhakrishnan: What is the Minister going to do about—Mr SPEAKER: Sorry a point of order the Hon Steven Joyce.Hon Steven Joyce: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Just reflecting on that particular ruling that you've identified—Mr SPEAKER: Well no. The member will resume his seat now. The member doesn't reflect on a ruling that I've made at all and certainly not after we'd moved on to the next supplementary question.Priyanca Radhakrishnan: What is the Minister going to do about costs in emergency and transitional housing?Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: Yes a point of order Mr Brownlee. If it relates in any way to a previous ruling that I've made there's going to be a significant loss of supplementary questions on behalf of the National Party.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Sir I just think it's reasonable that we get a clarification on the statement you've just made because if members don't reflect on anything that the Speaker has said how can they learn from your vast experience?Mr SPEAKER: That again was a nice try and the member might have got away with it through flattery but I don't expect to hear in this House every time Mr Joyce reflects on something.Jami-Lee Ross: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: If this is a continuation of this matter in any way the member's party will lose supplementary questions.Jami-Lee Ross: It is different Mr Speaker. You chastised Mr Joyce for not raising in your view the point of order right at the time.Mr SPEAKER: Yes.Jami-Lee Ross: In fact he did stand up. And Mr Speaker I submit to you that he was on his feet right away and should not have been chastised.Mr SPEAKER: Yes and I have indicated to members that my left ear is slightly deaf—that has mainly been to the advantage of members on my left. If Mr Joyce called I didn't hear him. Right continue with the supplementary question.Priyanca Radhakrishnan: What is the Minister going to do about costs in emergency and transitional housing?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Well I will be discussing Budget bids with Cabinet but the long-term answer is building more houses. The Government is currently spending about $90000 a day putting homeless people up in motels because there are too few State houses and so many were sold under the former Government. This Government's solution is more State houses and more affordable homes so there is a decent place to live for everyone.