As Homelessness Week draws to a close, Tasmanians have once again seen no evidence of progress from a Government that has failed to get the basics right in housing for nearly a decade.
Their failure to get the basics right-across the entire housing system-means a record number of Tasmanians are being forced to endure another winter out in the cold, renters are being squeezed with record rents, and young people are seeing the dream of home ownership disappear.
The latest data shows the Government has built no new supported accommodation in over a year, no new accommodation for people experiencing homeless, and there have been no new land releases for months.
The data also shows the Liberal Government was only able to house less than two people a day from the waitlist in June. Even if no one else joined the waitlist, at this rate it would take them more than six years to house everyone who’s currently waiting.
These are more than just statistics. These are people, Tasmanian families, that are out in the cold, couch surfing or living out of tents.
Yet all Housing Minister Guy Barnett could do this week was say he wished he could snap his fingers and make the problem go away.
He’s the Minister in this Government with the most power to bring about real change. Tasmanians need him to focus on getting the basics right, not making wishes and promises he never delivers.
Sarah Lovell MLC
Shadow Minister for Community Services and Development
