· Simply no properties affordable for some Tasmanians
· Jaensch must provide update on how many of promised 900 homes have been built
A new report has laid bare the dire state of
Tasmania’s housing crisis under the Hodgman Government and Housing Minister
Roger Jaensch.
An Anglicare Tasmania report has revealed
Tasmanian pensioners are being forced into share houses due to a lack of
rentals available, while single people on Youth Allowance or Newstart would not
be able to afford any available properties listed.
Shadow Housing Minister Alison Standen said
Minister Jaensch was failing the thousands of Tasmanians who are struggling to
pay the rent and facing potential homelessness by not delivering promised
housing stock.
“Minister Jaensch must today provide an update
of how many actual properties he has built since last July when he promised 900
houses would be completed by this June,” Ms Standen said.
“Can Minister Jaensch confirm that less than 300
of his promised 900 have so far been completed?
“It’s appalling that despite all the promises
and despite all the spin, families are still having to wait more than a year
for a home when this government just five years ago inherited a record low wait
time of 20 weeks.
“For the first time, it costs more to rent a
house in Hobart than it does in Melbourne in absolute terms.
“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.
“Those Tasmanians who have been left out in the cold this winter by the Hodgman Government don’t want to see glossy brochures, they want to see real action to solve the housing crisis.”
Alison Standen MP
Shadow Housing Minister
