Shadow Housing Minister Alison Standen has acknowledged World Homelessness Day saying that while it is a global effort to raise awareness of homelessness, it has a strong local focus.
“This is a reminder of the very real plight of people in our state, cities and local communities who are experiencing homelessness.
“And it should be a prompt for our governments and leaders to enact policies and programs to fix this urgent problem,” Ms Standen said.
“Too many Tasmanians are struggling to put a roof over their head.
“Sadly an opportunity was missed by the Morrison Government in this week’s Federal Budget, to increase much needed investment in new social housing.
“Premier Peter Gutwein must correct this in next month’s State Budget.
“Housing Minister Roger Jaensch has presided over a housing crisis for Tasmanians with a mounting record of announcements that have not been matched with a track record of building houses and a reduction in homelessness.
“Meanwhile Tasmania’s public housing waitlist grows ever longer and homelessness particularly for younger people and older women gets worse.
“On top of this the Minister has tried to spin his way out of what should be a sackable offence, when he was caught lying to the Parliament over the Government’s attempts to make it easier to evict public housing tenants.
“It’s a sad indictment on the Government, that at a time when the need has never been greater, it sees fit to turn its back on those without a home.
“Housing ends homelessness and it’s well past time to flatten the curve on homelessness.
“Labor has an alternative policy, to build more social and affordable housing to provide secure accommodation and create jobs and certainty in the building and construction industry.”
Alison Standen MP
Shadow Minister for Housing
