Nearly four
years after passing land supply orders for West
Moonah and other sites around Tasmania to fast-track the delivery of affordable
housing options, the Liberal government still has nothing to show for it.
Urgent land
supply orders were passed in 2019 for West Moonah, Newnham, Rokeby, Devonport,
Huntingfield, Romaine and Burnie, with the government claiming they would
result in nearly 1,000 new homes for Tasmanians.
But, despite all
their bluster about delivering housing for Tasmanians, the Liberals have yet to
build any houses on these sites and vulnerable Tasmanians continue to couch
surf, sleep in their cars, shelters or other unstable accommodation.
The government’s
promise to build 10,000 homes in ten years is already critically behind
schedule. Last month they built just eight houses across the entire state – 90
per cent below the number they need to build each month to fulfil their
commitment to Tasmanians.
This is a
government incapable of delivering anything tangible for Tasmanians beyond
empty announcements, with Housing Minister Guy Barnett clearly not up to the
task.
Without real
action by the government, the housing crisis will continue to worsen, with dire
social and economic consequences across the state.
It is time for Jeremy Rockliff and Guy Barnett to start keeping their promises to Tasmanians, prioritise housing over a $750 million stadium in Hobart, and actually deliver.
Ella Haddad MP
Shadow Housing Minister
