Housing crisis hurting Tasmania’s economy

·
Report:
Liberals failure to invest holding back our economy

·
Jaensch
failing to meet housing targets

·
Renting
in Hobart now costs more than Melbourne

The Hodgman Government’s failure to invest in
housing is hurting the economy.

Shadow Housing Minister Alison Standen said the
latest Deloitte Access Economics Business Outlook report laid out in black and
white the Liberals’ failure to manage growth.

“Unless enough new housing is
built then prices will continue to outpace those of Sydney and Melbourne and
potentially choke off some of the better population news of recent times.”

Ms Standen said Housing Minister Roger Jaensch
had built only 281 of his own target of 900 new homes by the end of June.

“Inaction from the Liberals means more
Tasmanians than ever are unable to afford to rent or buy a home and
homelessness is increasing,” Ms Standen said.

“We know the Liberals’ failure to invest in
housing has hurt people but it’s also putting a handbrake on Tasmania’s
economy.

“For the first time, it costs more
to rent a house in Hobart than it does in Melbourne in absolute terms.

“Public housing waiting times are atrocious and
the waiting lists are not getting any shorter.

“On any given night 1,600 Tasmanians are
homeless and many other families are couch surfing, relying on their friends
and families or living in sheds, cars or tents.

“Labor called for an urgent Parliamentary
Inquiry into Tasmania’s Housing Crisis in State Parliament last week.

“The inquiry will focus on the key issues that
have led to an unprecedented point of crisis.

“Importantly, it will gather evidence from affected
Tasmanians and key organisations and help to inform policies that will make a
substantial difference to the lives of people in housing stress.”

Click
here for Labor’s terms of refererence for the inquiry.

Alison Standen MP

Shadow Housing Minister