Labor launches attack on Liberals over ‘pitiful’ housing approvals
The Liberals have “very, very little chance” of meeting their social housing construction targets, Labor says, but the Housing Minister has flatly denied the claims.
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THE state government’s pledge to build 3500 extra homes by 2027 is faltering, according to new Australian Bureau of Statistics figures.
Labor housing spokeswoman Ella Haddad said the figures showed just 19 new public sector homes were approved in August and September.
She described the result as “pitiful” during a housing crisis – but the government has hotly denied the claims.
In September, Mr Ferguson promised new funding in the budget would mean an extra 2000 new homes would be built by 2027, on top of the 1500 already on track to be built by 2023.
“Michael Ferguson has very, very little chance of meeting the huge targets he has set for himself, if his recent and current efforts are any indication,” Ms Haddad said.
“The proof is in the numbers released by the ABS, which shows just 15 new approvals for public sector social houses were achieved in September. That follows just four approvals granted for the month of August.
“This is official data released by the independent statutory agency of the Commonwealth government which provides evidence to state governments.
“If Mr Ferguson disputes it – or seeks to deny its validity – he should be up front about that.
“If he cannot, he should provide evidence to back his claim that he is building to keep up with demand, and give Tasmanians clear and genuine information on what he has built since the Liberals made huge promises at the election just last May.”
Soaring house prices and the growth of short-stay accommodation has led to housing affordability and a rental crises in Tasmania, with population growth tipped to make things worse.
“Tasmanians – not the least the 4468 families now on the waiting list – want and deserve that proof because they understand this is a government that has made an art form out of making big promises and routinely failing to deliver,” Ms Haddad said.
“Tasmanians already know Michael Ferguson as the failed former health minister and they want assurances he is not going to fail us once again on the critical responsibility of housing Tasmanians who need it most.
“Mr Ferguson needs to provide that evidence or admit that his housing promises are yet another cruel hoax.”
Housing Minister Michael Ferguson said the Bureau of Statistics figures were misleading.
“ABS data for public housing only captures a fraction of the approvals that are government-funded,” he said.
“The majority of our new housing stock is being built in partnership with our Community Housing Providers, who have access to a range of land that they can build on, some of which belongs to the government, most of it non-government land.
“Therefore, most new social and affordable housing is captured by the ABS as private sector approvals.
“So Ms Haddad is being thoroughly dishonest with her ridiculous claim.”
He said the ABS showed 83 public sector approvals this calendar year, but “hundreds” had been built.
“For the record, there are currently 538 government-funded houses in progress, all of which received approval. A far cry from Labor’s little number.”
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