Dr WOODRUFF (Franklin – Leader of the Greens) – Deputy Speaker, for so many Tasmanians, there is no more important issue in their life than trying to have a house over their head that is secure for an amount that is affordable on their income, whether that is for a mortgage or to a landlord.
It is so insecure for people living in rental accommodation in Tasmania. It is an unregulated market, essentially, that is at the behest of the changes happening in Australia and in Tasmania. We do not have control over some levers, but we have control over a whole bunch that would make a massive difference to people’s lives. They are the ones that we are talking about today. What we have seen in Tasmania in such a short amount of time, in less than 10 years, is an explosion of whole homes that have been taken out of the market – especially and initially in Hobart, but now increasingly growing in other parts of Tasmania – a huge number of whole homes that have been taken out.
The evidence is really clear. There are 3773 properties that are listed under short‑stay that are whole homes. They are not a primary residence. They have been taken out of the rental market and put into the short‑stay market. They are not available for people who are renting.
I do not have the up‑to‑date figures, on how many people are waiting for emergency priority housing, but I know those people are women fleeing family violence with their children, people with serious disabilities, older people, people with a whole range of reasons that make it really imperative for them to have a house. Every person is important, but there is a priority ordering of everybody. In that list there are thousands and thousands of Tasmanians who are waiting for a home. It is a critical issue of our time, which is why the Greens have been so clear we must at the Tasmanian and federal level pull every lever we can to make the changes to the housing market.
Dr Broad interjecting.
Dr WOODRUFF – Yes, I totally hear what Dr Broad is saying, we do have to be thoughtful and careful in any market. That is why our position has been so moderate and careful in making sure that we cannot take whole homes out of residential areas to go to short‑stay. In non‑residential areas, then that would be a matter for councils. We have to have the councils looking at local conditions.
What we had from the Liberals in the state election was an awful portrayal, really ,of their misuse and abuse of the trust of people who are desperate, by pretending that they were going to do anything about short‑stay. They promised a 5 per cent levy on short‑stay properties, promised that they would then take and use the land tax or something else to do with housing to sort of make it better for people.
Dr Broad – Abolishing stamp duty for first home buyers.
Dr WOODRUFF – They have done absolutely nothing. They have done nothing.
Dr Broad – It has already been abolished.
Dr WOODRUFF – They have not taken the $5000 from short‑stay properties. They promised to get rid of the terrible war in place, which means that it is not required for a property owner to by default have a conversation with a person about keeping pets in their rental homes. That is so critical. There are so many Tasmanians who are not able to have their animals with them. It makes them incredibly sad that they do not have the animals that they love, or that if they move from one home into another home, they have to get rid of their pets, sometimes to the pound to be killed.
The question is: why have the Liberals not brought that in? They have done nothing. We are not surprised about that. We are concerned about Labor. I would like to have confirmation from Dr Broad, by interjection even, if the Deputy Speaker would allow that.
DEPUTY SPEAKER – Please do not invite interjections, Dr Woodruff.
Dr WOODRUFF – We did read into Labor’s response that they have not held firm to the position they took to the last election about pausing short‑stay. Is that still your policy?
Dr Broad – It is a bit more qualified than pausing short‑stay.
Dr WOODRUFF – Well, there we go. I mean it is very concerning to hear any qualification about what was already a very qualified position. The Greens call on the Labor Party to be really clear to renters about what your position is, whether you still would do something about short‑stay. Would your policy be to pause it?
Time expired.
