The Premier must provide financial help to Tasmania’s most vulnerable as the state works through the COVID-19 crisis.
Labor Leader Rebecca White said Tasmania faces a perfect storm, with a highly casualised workforce in the tourism and hospitality industry, combined with the most unaffordable rents in the country.
“Many, many people are facing unemployment and increased job insecurity and need immediate help to pay the rent and other bills,” Ms White said.
“The $250 payment announced by Peter Gutwein this week only applies to people who are forced to self-isolate and is not enough to cover even a single week’s rent.
“Yesterday, I was contacted by a single mother in a high-risk category, no longer able to work because she is in self-isolation. Once she pays her $410 a week rent, she has no money left for bills, food or medicine and is facing eviction in a week’s time.
“I’m pleased Mr Gutwein has given an undertaking to look into this case, but the unfortunate reality is that there are many more people in our communities facing similar situations.
“We need to introduce a safety net to ensure private tenants who can’t work or lose their jobs because of COVID-19 do not face eviction and add to our already alarming homeless figures.
“The Premier needs to work with the Federal Government and financial institutions to suspend mortgage payments like other countries have done.
“Other jurisdictions are also moving to legislate to prevent evictions, I would also urge the Premier to invoke his powers to suspend forced evictions from public and community housing.
“There is also an urgent need to strengthen our efforts to communicate the need for immediate self-isolation to the most vulnerable members of our society – including the elderly, the chronically unwell and the immunocompromised – so they can remain safely in their homes.
“At risk individuals will need to be provided with appropriate financial support that will allow them to be isolated right now to protect themselves from the threat of the virus, and ensure they can survive financially.
“We all know these are extraordinary times. They require an extraordinary response to protect all Tasmanians, especially our most vulnerable.”
Rebecca White
Labor Leader
