Mander takes aim at Smith over Bundaberg housing crisis

With 1318 Bundaberg people on a skyrocketing winter waiting list for social housing, desperate families, full-time workers and ‘good, honest, hard-working and reliable’ people from all walks of life face life in a tent or worse. VIDEO.

Multiple social media posts from desperate Bundaberg individuals and families facing homelessness are an increasing and distressing constant as the rental market remains tightly stagnant and social housing impossibly inadequate.

More people are being forced to live in tents and caravans and abandon their beloved pets in order to keep a roof over their head.

The NewsMail reached out to Bundaberg MP Tom Smith and asked what the State Government plan was in the short term to address the housing shortage and get people out of tents.

Bundaberg residents have had to pitch tents in caravan parks as they battle the rental crisis.

Mr Smith said he has worked with a number of constituents to provide them with immediate solutions, in partnership with local community groups and through a State Government action plan.

“In June 2021, the Palaszczuk Government launched the Queensland Housing and Homelessness Action Plan 2021-25 which is a four year plan for the next stage of the Queensland Housing Strategy,” Mr Smith said.

“The new action plan is backed by a $2.9 billion investment, including the establishment of a $1 billion Housing Investment Fund, to boost housing supply and increase housing and homelessness supports across Queensland.

“Over the next four years, the Palaszczuk Government has committed to building 170 new homes in the Wide Bay Burnett region.

“As of May 2022, 26 of these homes have already commenced and this is in addition to the 50 new social homes already commenced under the Queensland Housing Strategy since 2017, and five through Works for Tradies.

“The recent announcements of Paradise Dam set to be restored and the early works beginning on the new Bundaberg Hospital at the end of 2022, have already provided incentive for property developers to invest in new housing stock in the Bundaberg region.”

Bundaberg locals are living in tents, despite desperate calls for help.

Mr Smith told the NewsMail he would continue to work with community groups in an effort to help struggling families.

“As the Member for Bundaberg I am committed to working with all levels of government, community groups and the private real estate market to address the challenges faced by families and individuals in our region,” he said.

“It takes a community effort to achieve positive community outcomes.

“In the 2020-21 budget the Palaszczuk Government committed $244.5 million for homelessness responses, which included five-year funding agreements with specialist homelessness services which deliver temporary accommodation, outreach and mobile support services,” Mr Smith said.

“My office works closely with Department of Housing and Regional Housing Limited to provide those at risk of homelessness with real outcome solutions such as temporary short-stay accommodation, social and affordable housing, as well as head-leasing arrangements in the Bundaberg region.”

Bundaberg locals are posting to Facebook every day asking for help.

Opposition spokesperson for housing, Tim Mander, said Mr Smith was “failing” the region’s homeless community.

“The number of social housing bedrooms has increased by just 34, despite a waiting list expanding by 652 people at the same time,” Mr Mander said.

Mr Mander said 1318 people in the Bundaberg electorate were on the list, up from more than 666 four years ago.

“That’s an extra 652 people on the waiting list, but in the same timeframe there has been only 34 extra social housing bedrooms made available,” he said.

“These are vulnerable Queenslanders looking for a roof over their head.

“Bundaberg MP Tom Smith is failing his most vulnerable constituents and he needs to front up with real solutions for his community.

“Is he even aware that the number of bedrooms has increased 1.57 per cent but the waitlist has soared by nearly 100 per cent?

“If the Government wants to get serious about housing more vulnerable Queenslanders, it needs to unlock the community housing sector.

“We also must build more homes for private buyers. We have to be prepared to open up new land parcels and increase population density in regional centres.”

Bundaberg locals are posting to Facebook every day asking for help.

Mr Smith said the LNP’s “failed” housing policy was to blame.

“When Tim Mander was Housing Minister he oversaw the LNP’s failed housing policy that saw a 90 per cent cut to the social housing construction program, leading to an overall reduction in the number of social homes in Queensland,” he said.

“Between 2012 and 2014 the LNP commenced just 10 homes in the Bundaberg Electorate and across Queensland the total number of social dwellings fell by 428.

“All this at a time when the LNP sacked over 120 nurses and midwives from Wide Bay hospitals, causing increased demand for housing.”

State Government statistics have revealed a staggering rise of 97.9 per cent in the number of total people waiting for social housing in Bundaberg from 2018 to 2021.

While the State Government and its opposition continue to blame one another for the lack of housing, there are still no immediate actions being taken to help everyone from full time workers to families on benefits and pensions to find a rental to call home.

Originally published as Mander takes aim at Smith over Bundaberg housing crisis