Questions raised about the handling of long-term Defence housing vacancies

While Townsville residents struggle to find housing, over a hundred Defence homes sit empty, raising questions about the handling of this long-term problem.

Assistant Defence Minister Matt Thistlethwaite has taken fire from Herbert MP Phillip Thompson over the number of vacant Defence homes in Townsville. Picture: Supplied.

Over a hundred Defence Housing Australia homes are sitting empty in Townsville while the city is gripped by a housing shortage, raising questions around the handling of the long-running problem.

Last year, the Townsville Bulletin highlighted that dozens of homes owned by the federal government’s defence housing organisation (DHA) had been sitting vacant in Aitkenvale for years, drawing the ire of Herbert MP Phillip Thompson who raised his concerns with Assistant Defence Minister Matt Thistlethwaite.

Responding to questions about where defence families would be accommodated in the coming years as part of the military expansion and relocation of 500 troops, a DHA spokeman revealed that they provided 1,172 dwellings in Townsville, with a 9.04 per cent vacancy rate - about 105 empty homes.

When asked about the number of vacancies, Mr Thompson was appalled.

Herbert MP Phillip Thompson said he has raised Townsville’s vacant DHA property problem several times with the relevant minister.

“The sheer number of properties sitting vacant is of serious concern and an ongoing issue that I have repeatedly raised with the Labor Minister responsible, Assistant Minister for Defence Matt Thistlethwaite,” Mr Thompson said.

“Many families in Townsville are doing it tough, getting a rental property is near impossible and to have the minister to allow high DHA home vacancies is appalling.

Vacant DHA homes in Aitkenvale.

“The mismanagement of defence housing is a complete failure by the Labor Minister and shows how ill-prepared they are to provide sufficient housing for the 500+ personnel and their families who will begin moving to Townsville in line with the defence restructure.”

He called for a top-down approach towards addressing the problem.

“The Minister needs to get a plan and direct DHA to follow it and follow it now,” he said.

A DHA spokeswoman said it has a proud history of supporting Defence personnel in Townsville and it takes its responsibility to the region seriously.

“DHA’s purpose is to provide housing and related services to Defence members and their families,” the spokeswoman said.

“The vacancy level of houses can be impacted by Defence members posting in and out of an area. Generally, our housing is not vacant for extended periods of time.

“DHA also undertakes significant maintenance activities between tenancies that can impact vacancy levels at any one time. DHA continues to work proactively with Defence to support the evolving housing needs of ADF members in Townsville.”

Originally published as Questions raised about the handling of long-term Defence housing vacancies