Huon MLC Paul Harriss is fuming, as tenants in homes built under a Tasmanian Government scheme in
Huonville five years ago will be kicked out today because of the failed Government program.
“The Tasmanian Government launched a scheme in 2006 with great fanfare and announced they would spend
$48million to run the program over an eight-year timeframe,” Mr Harriss said.
“The Government’s expectation was that the private sector would build 700 new houses and then the
Government would subsidise the lease of these for housing department clients for a minimum five years
guaranteed, with the likelihood of three, five-year extensions.
“The program was sold on the basis that investors would have secure returns and that lots of new, affordable
housing would be available for Tasmanians in need.”
Mr Harriss said the program had been closed down because of the Government’s inability to manage the
program, and now the very Tasmanians in need, to whom the Government pitched its assistance, will be kicked
out, with some in Huonville as early as today.
“Even worse, the Government seems to be sneakily rolling the evictions out in small lots so that numerous
housing department customers do not become aware of the situation at the same time and consequently go public
on such a sensitive matter,” Mr Harriss said.
“This covert exercise has not gone under the radar and residents of Bridgewater are next on the hit-list after the
callous evictions of the Huonville residents.
“The Government has also admitted that there are no other local rental options for those being evicted in
Huonville.
“Just how much more callous can this Government be when they described these very people as those ‘needing a
home every night, every year in a socially inclusive community’ (media release, Lara Giddings 1 May, 2008).”
Mr Harriss called on Housing Minister Cassy O’Connor to get ‘hands on’ and tell Tasmanians their
Government-funded housing is secure and to start ensuring the Huonville residents can stay right where they are.
Huon MLC Paul Harriss
