Media release – Vica Bayley MP, Greens Housing spokesperson, 4 December 2023
Tenants’ Union Funding Must be Priority
The Tasmanian Greens strongly support the Tenants’ Union call for more funding support from the State Government, and urge Treasurer Michael Ferguson to make this commitment as soon as possible.
Tasmania is in the midst of a terrible housing crisis, with thousands of people facing hardship as a result. The Tenants’ Union plays a critical role in supporting renters who find themselves in difficult circumstances – but the funding they receive is less than anywhere else in the nation.
In their decade in government the Liberals have consistently promoted policies that have made the housing crisis worse. This has had a direct impact on the already significant workload of support organisations like the Tenants’ Union.
The Tenant’s Union is an amazing organisation, but they just aren’t getting enough government support. The Liberals have shown they have no interest in real reforms to better support renters, but they could at least give the Tenants’ Union the funding they need to continue their invaluable work to support real people suffering in the housing crisis.
Given the Liberals were happy to find $100,000 to give a nebulous landlord lobby group, it should be pretty easy to find a similar amount to give the Tenants’ Union the funding they need.
The work of the Tenants’ Union is essential and urgent for those who need their help, and we call on the Treasurer to agree to this funding request as a priority ahead of the next budget.
