Hobart housing crisis: Minister Roger Jaensch finally visits tent city at showgrounds

SEVENTEEN days after being sworn in, new Housing Minister Roger Jaensch has visited the Hobart Showgrounds “tent city”.

Housing Minister Roger Jaensch speaks with people who are living at the Hobart Showgrounds. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

UPDATE: SEVENTEEN days after being sworn in, new Housing Minister Roger Jaensch has visited the Hobart Showgrounds “tent city”.

Pressure had been mounting on Mr Jaensch to meet the Showgrounds’ residents after he failed to visit for more than a fortnight and said he had no plans to do so.

MORE: MINISTER NO-SHOW AT HOBART’S ‘TENT CITY’

Mr Jaensch declined to comment to the Mercury as he left the site, but the visit was welcomed by residents and Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania chief executive Scott Gadd.

“We’re pleased the minister did come today, it’s important that he’s actually been out there and listened to people and got a bit more of an understanding about some of the various issues they’re facing,” Mr Gadd said.

“They felt like they were heard, he didn’t offer any real solutions but I don’t think anyone expected him to, being so early into his role. They threw a lot at him, so it was probably a lot for him to take in.”

Both Greens leader Cassy O’Connor and Labor housing spokesman Josh Willie have visited in recent days.

They had called for Mr Jaensch to visit after he was sworn in as Housing Minister 17 days ago.

Independent Denison MHR Andrew Wilkie also visited on Friday.

Mr Willie said Mr Jaensch’s decision not to visit the showgrounds earlier lacked empathy.

“Mr Jaensch is four weeks late in reluctantly visiting the showgrounds while he ignored what was clear to all Tasmanians — families are living in tents as winter approaches,” Mr Willie said.

“Now that he has seen first-hand that people are in desperate need, he needs to come up with more workable solutions and demonstrate genuine engagement and commitment.”

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said it was about time Mr Jaensch visited.

“We hope it sharpens his mind to the urgency of the problem,” she said.

In a media release, Mr Jaensch said the Government had made progress on addressing the housing shortage and was hard at work implementing outcomes from the recent housing summit.

“The Liberal Government has a strong plan to overcome the latest challenges and is fully committed to actioning the solutions as a matter of priority,” he said.

Housing Minister Roger Jaensch speaks about Hobart's housing crisis alongside Premier Will Hodgman. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

EARLIER: PRESSURE is mounting on Housing Minister Roger Jaensch to visit Hobart’s “tent city”, as the housing crisis deepens.

It has been more than two weeks since Mr Jaensch was appointed to Cabinet to oversee a solution to the housing crisis but, despite an invitation, he has not visited the Hobart Showground, where families are sheltering in tents.

Labor housing spokesman Josh Willie, who has visited the site, urged the Minister to visit the Showground to better understand the plight of people there.

“How can the new Minister implement changes when he’s not listening to the people who are experiencing homelessness?” he said.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor, who has also visited the tent city, said Mr Jaensch had to get out of his office to see the “human face of the housing emergency”.

“There are children sleeping in tents, working families who’ve searched in vain for a rental and people in mental distress,” she said.

As heat grew on Mr Jaensch, the Salvation Army denied speculation struggling tenants at Common Ground’s Campbell St site will be evicted to make way for Tafe students.

The Salvation Army manages the State Government-owned complex, which has a mixed tenancy arrangement housing people who cannot afford regular rentals, such as low-wage earners and people with a history of homelessness.

Salvation Army public relations officer Brad Watson said nobody staying at the Campbell St site in Hobart had been asked to leave.

“Absolutely not,” he said.

“Our contract is in place until next year and we don’t foresee a change of use in that period and we will continue to serve out our contract.”

Sources have contacted the Mercury about concerns Campbell St tenants would be replaced by students. Common Ground Tasmania built 97 affordable housing units across two sites at Campbell St and Goulburn St in 2012. The Salvation Army took over management of the sites in 2016.

Mr Watson said the Salvos would continue to manage the Campbell St site until June 30 next year when its contract expires. But after July 1 this year, Anglicare would take over the Goulburn St site after winning a Department of Health and Human Services tender.