Labor has welcomed the announcement that a moratorium on private rental evictions and rent hikes will be extended until the end of January, but slammed the government for acting so slowly.
Shadow Minister for Housing Alison Standen said the belated decision to extend relief has caused unnecessary and avoidable distress for many vulnerable Tasmanians.
“In failing to act faster, Elise Archer and Peter Gutwein have created enormous uncertainty for Tasmanian families, faced with the prospect of eviction in the leadup to Christmas.
“With the moratorium due to end next week, those people have been bracing for rent hikes and – in the case of those in financial distress – eviction.
“The callous Liberals have moved deliberately slowly, to create pain and distress they could then act to alleviate in the interests of a PR win for the relief they should already have provided. These are people’s lives and livelihoods they’re playing with.
“This comes on a day the Minister for Housing, Roger Jaensch, has resorted to reformatting the Quarterly Housing Report, so it’s harder to compare like for like, and it’s easier for the government to claim progress on Tasmania’s housing crisis, where there is none.
“The Liberals have done nothing to solve Tasmania’s housing crisis, and have demonstrated their utter contempt for Tasmanians living from month to month, with the risk of losing the roof over their head.”
Alison Standen
Shadow Minister for Housing
