Rental crisis summit overdue and now is time for immediate fixes, rather than longer-range solutions

WITH the cooler months approaching, the Government had little choice but to act on solving Hobart’s rental crisis.

WITH the cooler months approaching, the Government had little choice but to act on solving Hobart’s rental crisis.

Our stories of families living in tents at the Hobart Showground have finally got the message across. This is a crisis which needs urgent attention — right now.

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An urgent summit announced by Premier-elect Will Hodgman is welcome news for those struggling to find a place to live and welfare organisations who have been seeking to help them.

The move is not before time. The Mercury has been consistently calling for urgent action to address the problems.

No one should be forced to live in a tent when they have the means to rent a home. Yet that’s what is happening.

Vacancy rates are at record lows, rents are rising and people from all walks of life are finding it very difficult to find a place to live. The Mercury has told stories of single professionals with good jobs and good references unable to find a home.

It’s not just people living on the margins with complex problems who are homeless.

Just a week ago, both major parties were bereft of ideas for an immediate fix.

Treasurer Peter Gutwein and the Shadow Treasurer Scott Bacon were asked during the Mercury/TCCI debate but they both came up with long-to-medium term solutions.

Mr Bacon said there simply was no short-term fix. Mr Gutwein admitted it was a challenge.

Mr Gutwein talked about the Liberals’ plan to spend $125 million over five years on more affordable housing, cuts to stamp duty for those wanting to buy a first home, the $20,000 first-home builders’ grant, tax relief for retirees downsizing and a proposed three-year land tax holiday for properties going into the rental market.

Mr Bacon talked about Labor’s plan to spend $106 million on 900 new public homes and the need to construct the Hobart light rail so land either side of it could be rezoned for medium and high density — and affordable — housing.

All valid proposals, but cold comfort for families facing the prospect of shivering through winter in a tent.

Next Thursday’s summit will bring together key figures who have been leading the debate including Shelter Tasmania, TasCOSS. Mr Hodgman also wants to include representatives from housing, building and construction, property, real estate, local government, non-government and university sectors.

Both Labor and the Greens have welcomed the summit and offered to take part in a cross-party approach to find answers. That’s to be encouraged. This is a problem far more important than party politics.

Royal Show Society President Scott Gadd has been at the coal face of the rental crisis at the showgrounds. He speaks for many when he says the summit must not be another talkfest.

Practical suggestions such as opening up a vacant 60-room hotel and providing caravans are just the type of solutions which are needed to provide immediate relief.

Let’s get those families out of tents and find them real homes before winter sets in.