The ACT's housing minister has hit back at claims of a chronic shortage of social housing in Canberra, saying the capital was more than meeting its targets compared with other jurisdictions.
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Yvette Berry's comments were made on Monday, as 20 new public housing homes were opened in Dickson.
"We're doing our bit and we are significantly pulling our weight in both social and public housing," Ms Berry said.
"We're working towards building more affordable housing."
Social advocacy groups have said there was a "chronic shortage" of social and affordable housing in the ACT.
A stoush between ACT and NSW erupted earlier this month after Chief Minister Andrew Barr suggested the NSW government's underinvestment in housing for low-income earners created extra demand for properties in Canberra.
NSW Housing Minister Melinda Pavey hit back, stating "unlike the ACT, NSW isn't playing catch-up with delivering social housing".
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Ms Berry said while the ACT can't go it alone on providing more social housing, the capital was doing more than its share.
"The point the chief minister was trying to make is that the ACT can't do it on our own," she said.
"We're doing our bit, in fact we're doing more than our bit, and we've shown that with the investments we've made so far.
"When the rest of the country makes a commitment the same as the ACT has, that will make a significant difference to everyone's lives across the country."
The most recent parliamentary agreement signed between Labor and the Greens pledged to build 400 public housing properties and 600 affordable rentals by 2025.
The 20 new public housing units in Dickson, which feature a mix of one, two and three-bedroom homes, replaces four duplexes which had been on the site since the 1960s. The first tenants have already moved into the new complex, some moving from public housing duplexes on the same Dickson street.
Among them was Pat Bailey, who had been living in her previous accommodation in Dickson for 65 years. She said her new home was easier to get around.
"I couldn't manage the stairs [in the old place] and it was too hard for me," she said. "The new one is more accessible and everything is beautiful."
Novy Forcadas will also be among the new residents at the Dickson complex. She was happy she would still be able to have a garden at her new home.
"When [moving to the new place] was first mentioned, I was reluctant because I love my gardens and I had to have a house with a garden," she said.
"After 21 years in the previous duplex, now I have a ground floor unit with one of the biggest gardens."
Andrew Brown
I've been part of the Canberra Times since 2016, after reporting at local papers in Sydney's north-west. Since starting at the paper I've had stints on the Sunday Times, on the early morning breaking news round, and now as a general reporter, covering the ins and outs of anything and everything happening in Canberra, with a focus on health.
I've been part of the Canberra Times since 2016, after reporting at local papers in Sydney's north-west. Since starting at the paper I've had stints on the Sunday Times, on the early morning breaking news round, and now as a general reporter, covering the ins and outs of anything and everything happening in Canberra, with a focus on health.
