Tasmanians failed by Jaensch on housing

Tasmanian Labor
  • Jaensch not grasping level of need in community
  • Housing crisis set to worsen with JobKeeper and JobSeeker wind backs
  • Social housing supply must be accelerated
  • Peter Gutwein must step up to address Tasmania’s housing crisis in the wake of Roger Jaensch’s incompetence to perform his duties as Housing Minister.

    Shadow Minister for Housing, Alison Standen, said Tasmanians continue to be failed by Roger Jaensch on housing.

    “The Liberals inherited a housing wait list that was the lowest in a decade but it has since blown out,” Ms Standen said.

    “Tasmanians are waiting 63.6 weeks to be housed in social and affordable housing and we can expect thousands more Tasmanians will be finding it harder to afford rental accommodation with the wind back of JobKeeper and JobSeeker.

    “Tasmania’s housing crisis existed well before COVID, but the government has done little to prepare us for what lies ahead.

    “Mr Jaensch has delivered just five of the 80 new social housing homes promised every year through Tasmania’s historic Commonwealth State Housing Agreement debt.

    “Unfortunately, this is unsurprising form from the Housing Minister who has failed to meet targets under his own Affordable Housing Strategy and Action Plans and took over six months to respond to Select Committee on Housing Affordability recommendations.

    “Minister Jaensch’s incompetence as Housing Minister reached new lows last week when he lied in parliament after being caught out for wanting to make it easier for Tasmanians to be evicted from their homes.

    “Under Minister Jaensch Tasmania’s new normal is homeless people on the streets, unaffordable rents and young people shut out of home ownership.

    “Roger Jaensch’s capability as Housing Minister is not one that inspires confidence and I urge the Premier to step up to address Tasmania’s housing crisis.

    “Labor will continue to call on the Government to adopt our Housing Works policy and fund the Hobart Showground Renewal Project which would create hundreds of jobs and help put a roof over the heads of more than 1,000 people.”

    Alison Standen MP

    Shadow Housing Minister

    /Public Release. View in full here.