Come clean on public housing changes

· Call for transparency in debate about future of public housing

· How will reforms impact on public housing tenants and rent, and 220 Housing Tasmania staff?

· Is reform only necessary because of Labor’s failure to invest in public housing?

The Liberals have called on the State Labor Government to be transparent about its plans for public housing, before the State election.
If it is the Government’s intention to transfer public housing stock to a new or existing community sector organisation, when will this occur, will the change have an impact on public housing tenants, their rent or security of tenure, what will happen to the 220 staff who work for Housing Tasmania, and who will meet the $90 million maintenance backlog on public housing properties?
There are critical questions outstanding, but the Minister would only say today in Parliament that no decision has been made and no changes will be made unless the Australian Government coughed up with reform money.
The Minister did, however, admit that risk factors had yet to be worked through, including the possibility of rent increases, security of tenure for public housing tenants, and the employment of Housing Tasmania staff.
From the response it seems if the Federal Government comes up with funding for reform, the change will go ahead without a public debate on the reforms involving those most impacted – public housing tenants and Housing Tasmania staff.
The Liberals called on transparency in reform of public housing, including modelling on whether Housing Tasmania’s problems could be solved with more recurrent funding instead of costly reform that may deliver worst results for vulnerable Tasmanians.
If the State Labor Government intend to undertake this reform after the State election, it must first seek a mandate to do so, beginning by tabling the recent KPMG report which cost Tasmanian taxpayers $223,000.
Background
In 2007, the Health Minister, Lara Giddings, said “I can completely rule out any change in Housing Tasmania’s status, or the creation of a new public housing corporation”.
In 2008, Options Paper produced on the future of public housing in Tasmania.
In late 2008, the Tasmanian community sector write to new Minister, Lin Thorp, expressing disappointment at the quality of its Options Paper produced – stating that “to propose that the Government should determine a radical restructure to public housing but will determine the risks of such a move and the necessary protections for vulnerable tenants later is a poor way to develop public policy”.
May-July 2009 – KPMG engaged to review public housing at a cost of $223,098.
Late 2009 – Director of Public Housing writes to Housing Tasmania staff indicating “the creation of large Community Housing Providers is the way of the future” and “who knows where the current work will lead us and given the political cycle I am not sure when decisions will be made … I hope this clarifies where things are up to”. (copy of letter attached).
Brett Whiteley MP Shadow Minister for Health and Human Services