Low income Tasmanians locked out of rental market
Government failing to act to prevent homelessness
Jaensch must provide new solutions instead of making re-announcements
The latest report on Tasmania’s housing crisis by Anglicare should act as the wake-up call for the Hodgman Liberal Government and Minister Roger Jaensch to finally act.
Shadow Housing Minister Josh Willie said the Rental Affordability Snapshot which shows Tasmanians on low incomes are being locked out of the private rental market should finally convince Mr Jaensch to come up with new housing affordability initiatives to address the housing crisis and growing homelessness
“Mr Jaensch has not approached the housing crisis with any urgency and is just not treating this serious issue with the immediacy it demands,” Mr Willie said.
“The Anglicare report should now provide him with the evidence he obviously requires to act on this crisis.
“It tells Mr Jaensch that Tasmanians on the minimum wage and those on income support payments cannot possibly compete in the current rental market.
“It tells the Minister Tasmanians are being forced into overcrowded and unsuitable accommodation.
“It shows him there are no affordable rental options in the south for young Tasmanians and single parents.
“It clearly states that Tasmania needs a government willing to make a greater investment into affordable housing because families are spending most of their income on rent leaving them unable to afford other necessities.
“The Hodgman Government and Mr Jaensch are yet to come up with a genuine solution to address the housing crisis and have declined to look at real initiatives like Labor’s plan to open up the northern suburbs rail corridor to make way for affordable housing.
“The Premier and Mr Jaensch have talked big around spending $125 million for housing affordability but now is the time for them to tell Tasmanians how and where they will spend it.”
Josh Willie MLC Shadow Housing Minister
