176 public housing properties in Tasmania destroyed by arson over the past six years
Firebugs were responsible for torching a staggering 176 public housing properties in Tasmania over the past six years amid a statewide housing shortage. FULL REPORT >>
Tasmania
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FIREBUGS were responsible for torching a staggering 176 public housing properties in Tasmania over the past six years amid a statewide housing shortage.
The Productivity Commission’s annual report on government services reflected the state government’s investment in housing and homelessness services, Acting Housing Minister Elise Archer said.
But she said 176 properties in Tasmania were lost to arson from 2015 when the state’s affordable housing strategy commenced, until 2021.
It equates to 29 homes per year or almost 2 ½ properties on average each month.
The figure comes as almost 4500 applications were on the waiting list for public housing at the end of November 2021.
The Productivity Commission’s report shows there was 98.2 per cent occupancy in the state’s pool of public housing, the equal-highest rate in the country and above the national average of 96.8 per cent.
Meanwhile, Tasmania invested the most per head of population on social housing of any Australian state during 2020-21, behind only the ACT and Northern Territory.
The report found there were 7031 government social housing properties in Tasmania at the end of June last year.
Ms Archer said more than 1100 new properties had been built since the launch of the government’s affordable housing strategy six years ago.
Ms Archer said a $615m spend into social and affordable housing was attempting to mitigate a public housing wait list that blew out by 23 per cent to the end of 2020-21.
Meanwhile, the report on government services’ analysis on child protection found there were 1077 children in out-of-home care.
There were 72 children — 52 boys and 20 girls — aged between 10 and 17 under community-based supervision.
Eight were in detention, seven boys and one girl, with the report finding the state had 24 permanently funded beds for youth detention.
Acting Minister for Children and Youth Roger Jaensch said the state’s approach to child safety was far different to other Australian jurisdictions.
“Wherever it is safe to do so, our priority is to work collaboratively with families at risk and provide wrap-around support services rather than automatically progress the notification through the statutory system,’’ Mr Jaensch said.
“Importantly, any child assessed to be in immediate danger is seen within 24 hours.”
The Productivity Commission will release more data in coming days covering other sectors.
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