Inquiry to be held into Homes Tasmania after parliament hears ‘failed experiment’ claims

The operations of Homes Tasmania will come under scrutiny after claims the government-owned housing provider was a “failing experiment”. Here’s who has been appointed to lead the inquiry.

Homes Tasmania CEO Eleri Morgan- Thomas, Salvation Army public relations manager Amelia Natoli, Guy Barnett MP and The Select Foundation Chair Bruce Neill at the Salvation Army 21 unit development at Moonah in 2023. Picture: Chris Kidd

An interstate auditor has been brought in to look into the operations of Homes Tasmania after a parliamentary motion described the government-owned housing provider as a “failing experiment”.

Parliament passed a motion moved by independent member David O’Byrne in July calling for an inquiry.

He said the two-year-old housing provider wasn’t working out.

Former Auditor-General of NSW Margaret Crawford. Picture: AAP Image/Brendan Esposito

Former New South Wales Auditor-General Margaret Crawford will lead the review, Minister for Housing, Planning, and Consumer Affairs Felix Ellis announced on Tuesday.

“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,” he 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 has a total portfolio of 13,200 property and land assets valued at $4.44 billion.

Independent member for Franklin David O’Byrne. Picture: Linda Higginson

Independent member for Franklin David O’Byrne told parliament in July “Homes Tasmania is not working. It was never going to work.”

“When Homes Tasmania was established in December 2022 … there were 4569 applicants on the public housing waiting list and the average time to house priority applicants was 77.9 weeks.

“As of today, there are 4709 applications on the waiting list and the average time to house priority applicants has increased to 89.7 weeks.

“The housing dashboard also reveals that only 341 new long-term social housing properties were delivered in the last 12 months, despite a promise to build 1000 homes a year.”

On Tuesday, he welcomed the review as the public housing waiting list reached an all-time high.

“The current pipeline of housing has more than halved compared to this point last year, while the level of unmet housing need across the state continues to increase.

“This government’s decision to place responsibility for social housing with an arm’s length statutory authority has, in my view, been a failed experiment that has only worsened the housing crisis.”

Originally published as Inquiry to be held into Homes Tasmania after parliament hears ‘failed experiment’ claims