The Department of Communities Annual Report has shown the complete failure of the Liberal Government to address Tasmania’s housing crisis.
The report shows the number of people housed during the year has fallen nearly 20 per cent compared to 2018, while 568 fewer people were supported into housing with private rental assistance.
Shockingly, the turnaround time for social housing has increased 40 per cent since 2018. Given the desperate need for housing right across Tasmania, it is unforgivable that perfectly good houses are sitting vacant a day longer than is absolutely necessary.
And this latest data comes off the back of Friday’s terrible housing dashboards, which showed rental vacancy rates as low as just 0.2 per cent, declining building approvals over the past year and the complete failure of the Liberal Government to deliver anywhere near the number of new houses it promised Tasmanians.
As a result, the Annual Report shows waiting lists for housing are up to record levels, as is the length of time even the highest priority applicants have to wait.
The Liberals have failed to get the basics right on housing for nearly a decade, and this year’s Annual Report shows the terrible toll this is taking on Tasmanians.
The Liberal Government needs to get its priorities right, stop obsessing over its $750 million stadium, and start delivering on the promises it made to Tasmanians.
Ella Haddad MP
Shadow Housing Minister
