The McGowan Government will defer a 2019-20 rent increase to public sector workers who access the Government Regional Officers' Housing (GROH) program, while a review of the previous government's policy is finalised.
Under the GROH program, government departments and agencies sub-lease rental properties to public sector employees, including police officers, teachers, health care workers and child protection workers often at less-than-market rate in regional Western Australia.
In 2015, the previous Liberal National Government approved changes to the GROH Tenant Rent Setting Framework (TRSF) and introduced an annual rent increase of up to $30 per week for workers who access the GROH program.
As stated by Industrial Relations Minister Bill Johnston:
"Public sector workers in regional WA, our dedicated and hard-working police officers, teachers, health workers and other employees, utilise GROH to live and work in the regions.
"GROH provides an incentive to attract and retain workers in country towns across the State.
"The deferral and review of the current policy will help guide further discussions with public sector unions as part of upcoming EBAs."
As stated by Housing Minister Peter Tinley:
"The GROH offers public servants such as police, nurses and teachers, an extra incentive - through subsidised housing - to live and work in regional WA and support local regional economies.
"The McGowan Government is committed towards the effective delivery of public services in regional and remote WA and will continue to support public sector workers who carry out their important work in their local regional and remote communities."
