As regional housing rent prices skyrocket, cost of living pressures have never been so great, entirely caused by a State Government not prepared to work with regional councils to fast-track land supply.
The Andrews Labor Government has been asleep at the wheel while their overblown bureaucracy is grinding the state to a halt.
Small-time developers and Mum and Dad investors who want to bring land to market in our regional centres are being held back by costly and unnecessary planning provisions that are often irrelevant in country towns.
The plethora of Labor’s big new taxes like the ‘Windfall Gains’ Tax all act as disincentives to making more land and more housing available. There has been a 10 per cent decrease in the number of available rentals in 2020-21 in the Barwon South-West region alone.
The lack of a fast-tracked system to bring on more land supply is seeing Victorian families pay the price through record rental costs, with regional people now paying the same median rents as those in the city of around $400 per week.
This is forcing more and more Victorians away from being able to live in their hometown with family, friends and the local community.
Shadow Minister for Housing, Richard Riordan said the rental rise in regional Victoria is unsustainable for local families.
“There are now thousands fewer people in Victoria after the pandemic and yet there are fewer homes available and rents continue to climb.”
“The Andrews Government likes to talk big but their lack of action on housing speaks louder than words. Our public housing waiting lists continue to grow and out of control private rental costs are only making the problem worse.”
“If Victoria is to recover and rebuild then it needs a housing plan for everyone, which only the Liberals and Nationals will deliver.”
