Housing reforms not working as intended, report finds

A review into the Tasmania’s flagship reform to ‘outsource’ public housing has found its not working, listing the areas it’s going wrong.

Housing Minister Felix Ellis with tradie. Picture: Supplied

The state government’s flagship housing reform has been hamstrung by a ill-defined roles, policy inconsistency and uncertainty around funding, an independent review has found.

Homes Tasmania was established by the government in 2022 as an independent agency to tackle the state’s housing crisis — but waiting lists are growing.

The review conducted by former New South Wales Auditor-General Margaret Crawford was released on Tuesday.

She found Homes Tasmania was not working as intended.

“The promise of innovative, flexible partnerships to speed up the supply of housing has not been delivered,” she wrote in her report.

“The added value delivered by the skills-based board has been questioned, along with whether government expectations of the organisation and controls imposed on its operations have set it up for success.

“This review has found that the current arrangements have not been as effective as hoped for, in part, for reasons outside the control of the authority, its board and staff.

“Homes Tasmania is hamstrung by duplicated and confused decision making and

accountability between the responsibilities of the board, and the Minister’s accountability to

the parliament for the performance of the authority.”

The report contained 20 recommendations for reform.

Housing minister Felix Ellis with Vonette Mead, Master Builders Tasmania, and Ryan from JDR Homes after announcing further funds for the house building sector. Picture: Supplied

Minister for Housing, Planning, and Consumer Affairs Felix Ellis said all would be implemented.

“As part of the review, the effectiveness of the governance structures and processes of Homes Tasmania was considered.

“One of the key recommendations makes changes to relocate the housing policy functions to the Department of State Growth.

“This will allow Homes Tasmania to strongly concentrate on the delivery of social and affordable homes, and tenancy and homelessness services.”

Independent MP David O’Byrne moved the motion which called for the inquiry.

“I was one of a number of MPs who voted against the creation of Homes Tasmania in 2023, because I believe the serious problem of housing availability should be at the heart of government decision making,” he said.

“Two years on from the creation of Homes Tasmania, it could not be clearer the Liberals’ decision to outsource public housing to a statutory authority was a mistake.

“However I take no pleasure in saying ‘told you so’, due to the untold suffering the housing crisis is causing in our community.

“Homes Tasmania was established to help address the housing crisis, largely by facilitating the speedy construction of more homes.

“But the public housing waiting list is now longer than ever with 5069 applicants, people can’t afford private rent and the promised new home construction blitz is falling woefully short of government expectations.”

Originally published as Housing reforms not working as intended, report finds