Media release – Felix Ellis, Minister for Housing, Planning, and Consumer Affairs, 3 November 2024
Homes Tasmania review
The former New South Wales Auditor-General, Margaret Crawford PSM, will lead an independent review of Homes Tasmania.
Minister for Housing, Planning, and Consumer Affairs, Felix Ellis, welcomed the review.
“Homes Tasmania was established nearly two years ago to deliver housing, homelessness and crisis accommodation services for Tasmanians, and this review will look into how effective this has been,” Minister Ellis said.
“Ms Crawford is an independent, experienced, and well-respected former Auditor-General of New South Wales who will lead the review, involving significant consultation with community and key stakeholders.
“This review will help to identify ways we can continue to efficiently and effectively grow our housing supply across Tasmania, a key part of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future.”
Homes Tasmania was established under the Homes Tasmania Act 2022 and commenced on 1 December 2022.
The review of Homes Tasmania will focus on:
• The effectiveness of the governance structures and processes of Homes Tasmania,
• the capacity of these structures to provide clear direction and efficient decision-making,
• the transparency and effectiveness of reporting mechanisms, including public reporting on the performance of Homes Tasmania,
• the role of Homes Tasmania in delivering housing, homelessness and crisis accommodation and services to eligible persons,
• the extent to which Homes Tasmania effectively engages with relevant sectors, providers, government agencies, and potential investors or partners, and
• any other matters relevant to governance, reporting and accountability of Homes Tasmania in delivering improved housing and homelessness outcomes in Tasmania.
Minister Ellis said a final report with recommendations for consideration will be tabled in the Parliament following the completion of the review.
Media release – Vica Bayley MP, Greens Housing Spokesperson, 3 December 2024
Review of Homes Tasmania welcomed, as housing figures continue to be fudged
The Greens welcome the announced independent review into Homes Tasmania by the Liberal Government, which will look into the governance, reporting and effectiveness in supplying Tasmanians with more homes. The Liberals announcement of a review into Homes Tasmania two years early is an acknowledgement that their plan to build 10,000 homes just isn’t working.
The creation of Homes Tasmania as a statutory authority for the delivery of social and affordable housing was always a neoliberal response to a problem created by a neoliberal policy. The Greens have always maintained that to ensure Tasmanians have the homes they need, the Liberals should be drastically increasing their investment in building new homes.
The Liberal Government has been more focused on fudging the numbers to achieve their target than actually building the houses Tasmanians need. They’ve included vacant land, crisis accommodation and private rentals temporarily helped by incentives towards their 10,000 homes target.
Every Tasmanian should have a place to call home. Safe housing is more than a basic need, it’s a fundamental human right. But under the Liberals, it’s becoming harder and harder to find an affordable home. The housing crisis has worsened, and the public housing waitlist blown out.
It’s time for the Liberals to admit that what’s really needed is more investment in housing for Tasmanians, instead of billion-dollar stadium. The Liberal Government must stop prioritising development over their clear imperative to build social and affordable homes for Tasmanians.
Ben Marshall
December 3, 2024 at 17:19
This is a crazy idea, but…
What if our State and Federal governments stopped throwing money at the gambling industry (“Slaughtering dogs and horses is our business model!”) and at the Butchers from Brazil (salmon farming – killing our coasts for toxic fish) and at “Sustainable” Timbers Tasmania (“bulldozing habitat near you for pulp!”) and at the fossil fuel industry (“Killing the planet as fast as we can!”) and at Tasnetworks’ new grid (to ship foreign-owned renewables energy to the Mainland market) and instead invested all that money in government-owned social housing?
Would that really be so unreasonable? To provide secure long-term construction jobs that benefit Tasmanians rather then profits for foreign owned companies and global investors who’ll never set foot in Tasmania?
Would this ensure that almost no one is homeless?
Crazy, right?
Thinker
December 6, 2024 at 19:53
Liberal governments in Tasmania, and comparable political institutions worldwide, have recklessly and selfishly wreaked havoc wherever they can. To any thinking person they are obviously way past their “Use by” date in an increasingly tormented world that’s clearly headed for disaster upon disaster – even while the frequency of these disasters is accelerating.
None of these entities have sufficient collective intelligence to adequately cope with today’s major distresses, partly because they are recklessly dedicated to exploiting everything they can, and partly because their minds are confused by the toxins of greed and latent or ongoing corruption.