BARTLETT GOVT FAILING TO PROVIDE HOMELESS ACCOMODATION

While Raising the Cost-of-Living & Selling-off Public Housing
Tim Morris MP
Greens Housing Spokesperson
Saturday, 12 September 2009

www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today reiterated their anger at the Bartlett Government’s lack of care or responsibility for homeless people, following allegations overnight from the owners of a former nursing home in Sandy Bay, that the government had reneged on a deal after repeatedly encouraging the owners to convert the property into a hostel for homeless Tasmanian families.

Greens Housing spokesperson Tim Morris MP said that under ten years of hard Labor there have been significant rises in the cost of electricity, water and sewerage provision, along with private rentals, and Labor now stood condemned for ignoring those people who are forced into homelessness by the spiralling housing costs and declining public housing numbers that Labor has overseen.

Mr Morris MP also said it is clear that the Housing Minister Lin Thorp decided some time ago that she did not want to take up the Sandy Bay property on behalf of homeless Tasmanians, but did not have the courage to publicly state this decision until it was dragged out of her at the death-knell of Parliamentary Estimates process.

“I am extremely angry that Lin Thorp has walked away from this entirely appropriate property, and now seems far more interested in abusing me over this issue than in providing housing for the homeless,” said Mr Morris.

“The Bartlett Government’s own policies are contributing directly to homelessness in Tasmania. When the government implements or oversees multiple cost-of-living rises while selling off public housing stock without replacement, in a market where private rental properties are extremely scarce, then a rise in the numbers of homeless people is the obvious result – and that is exactly what is happening right now.”

“We have just gone through one of the wettest winters on record, and dozens of homeless people would have had a roof over their head for the entire season if the Ms Thorp had cared enough to progress their dispute with the owners of the Star Street property.”

“Once again it is the most vulnerable in our society who are struggling while the Bartlett Government wastes time and resources on failed projects.”

“Given that this Sandy Bay property is likely to be the most affordable available, in an appropriate location, the Greens are calling on the Bartlett Government and Minister Thorp to re-engage with the owners,” said Mr Morris.

Tim Morris