The Rockliff Liberal Government’s long-term plan is working, with new data showing Tasmanians across the State have access to more social housing and homelessness support services than ever before.
Acting Minister for Housing and Construction, Roger Jaensch said that this growth, outlined in the Report on Government Services, is the result of the government’s sustained efforts to do what matters for Tasmanians.
“The number of social housing dwellings increased from 14,069 in 2021-22 to 14,605 in 2022-23, an increase by 540 dwellings,” Minister Jaensch said.
“Also, there were a number of new dwellings completed during June 2023 that were awaiting tenants to move in and so not captured in this reporting.
“On top of delivering more social housing for Tasmanians who need it, the Report shows we are managing these valuable community assets in an efficient manner.
“Tasmania’s occupancy rates were the second highest in the nation, we hold the second lowest turn around time of all jurisdictions, we have raised the overall satisfaction of tenants and remain well above the national average for allocations of greatest need applicants to public housing.
“I commend Homes Tasmania and our community housing providers for managing our social housing stock effectively and prioritising those in greatest need.
“We are undertaking the most ambitious long-term housing plan in the State’s history backed by our commitment to deliver 10,000 more social and affordable homes by 2032.
“There are positive signs that what we are doing is working and as a Government we will continue getting on with the job of doing what matters for Tasmanians.”
OUR HOUSING RECORD
- We’re delivering more homes: we’ve delivered over 2,600 social and affordable homes to Tasmanian families in the last three years, almost doubling the 1,500 delivery record of the last four years of the disastrous Labor-Green Government.
- We’re building more: Homes Tasmania and its partners delivered one quarter of all residential building approvals in Tasmania in the 2022-23 financial year.
- More homes for those who need them most: in the last 12 months, 630 long-term social homes alone – or nearly 2 social homes per day – were delivered to Tasmanians, a nearly 40% per cent increase on the 451 delivered in the last year of the Labor-Green Government in 2013-14.
- And there’s more to come: an additional 732 affordable and social homes in the Homes Tasmania pipeline, either under construction or in the planning stages, at end of November 2023
- We’re supporting renters: we’ve expanded the eligibility criteria for our Private Rental Incentives program to help more Tasmanians.
- Labor and the Greens: sold off houses to pay for maintenance and left the Liberals with a $90 million maintenance backlog.
- In contrast: Homes Tasmania and its community partners have invested over $300 million in maintenance from July 2014-June 2023.
