The Rockliff Government has promised Tasmanians it will build 10 000 new homes by 2032, but how many will be actual homes and at what real cost?
Housing Minister, Felix Ellis, fronted the Legislative Council inquiry into Housing today and confirmed Homes Tasmania will be funding most of the new social and affordable housing through debt funding.
The Inquiry heard Homes Tasmania will be carrying debt of $457 million by 2027. This is a direct result of Federal and State governments walking away from their core responsibility to fund new social and affordable homes, and instead opting to play the market and high finance.
In effect, after the cancellation of the Commonwealth State housing debt a few years ago, the Rockliff Government is saddling Homes Tasmania with a debt burden that will cost $23million in projected interest rates alone in 2026-27. Not much has changed from the bad old recent days of the debt Housing Tasmania carried around its neck like an albatross for decades.
There are also big question marks over how many of the promised 10 000 homes will actually be homes. The Homes Tasmania Housing Strategy Action Plan 2023-27 includes ‘affordable land’, ‘Safe Spaces’ and ‘crisis accommodation’ in its 10 000 homes commitment.
Of course it’s vital government fund and support a range of housing options, but it’s disingenuous at best for the Liberals to claim they’ll build 10 000 homes by 2032.
A home is much more than a roof over someone’s head. It’s the foundation for a sense of security and belonging. It’s the grounding that provides opportunities through education, training, employment and social connections. It certainly isn’t a piece of vacant land and the Minister should be more honest with Tasmanians about what’s really on the table to tackle the housing crisis.
Cassy O’Connor MLC led questioning to the Short Inquiry into Homes Tasmania on behalf of the Tasmanian Greens.
