Ms O’CONNOR – One more data question. What’s the current total asset base by home? How many homes does Homes Tasmania own, and do you include the homes that are managed by community housing providers as assets for the purposes of Homes Tas?
Ms MORGAN THOMAS – If I can go back to your previous question, the Commonwealth funding is $38.5 million this year. As to the number of homes, yes, we count most of the community housing provider properties.
Ms O’CONNOR – About 500 not, maybe?
Ms MORGAN THOMAS – Most of the community housing provider properties in Tasmania are owned by Homes Tasmania on a ground lease to them. They also have some of their own properties that they are required to operate through the social housing system. There are more social housing properties than just the ones that we own. I will get the number for you. The ones that we own total 12 666 – that’s public housing, Aboriginal housing and community housing.
Mr BARNETT – It doesn’t include the community housing providers.
Ms MORGAN THOMAS – It doesn’t include the bits that community housing providers own themselves.
Ms O’CONNOR – It was the ones that have title – is that about 500 homes?
Ms MORGAN-THOMAS – No, it would be closer to 1500 now.
Mr GILMOUR – I think, Ms O’Connor was referring to the Community Housing Stock Leverage Program transfer of 500 public housing to community housing.
Ms MORGAN-THOMAS – Okay.
Ms O’CONNOR – How many titles have been transferred?
Mr GILMOUR – I’d need to take that question on notice. I’m not sure if it was the full 500. That was what was in the pilot. In addition to that, there have a number of grant programs where we have to provide grant funds to organisations to build on their land. That’s secured for 30 years. That number is in addition to – because those properties need to be used –
Mr BARNETT – To clarify, because it might be useful –
Ms O’CONNOR – Can I put that on notice?
Mr BARNETT – Yes, because I think that’s a useful number because we’re short-changing everybody if you just refer to that. I’ll check if we have that number. If we haven’t we’ll get back to you.
Ms MORGAN-THOMAS – I have a total number for you.
Mr BARNETT – Okay.
Ms MORGAN-THOMAS – There are 14 500 properties – units of accommodation – in the system of which a small percentage are crisis/homelessness accommodation, transitional accommodation.
Ms O’CONNOR – Minister, it has taken, not you as minister, but you and your colleagues, eight years to build 1753 homes. I might as well remind you in the four years of the Labor-Greens Government we built more than 2000 in four years. You have set a target of 10 000 new affordable homes by 2032. In eight years, you built less than 2000, so you have nine years left. Why should Tasmanians who are living in precarious rentals or languishing on the housing waitlist for years on end believe you are going to deliver on that promise.
Mr BARNETT – Thank you for the question. That is the reason we created Homes Tasmania to do things differently with a skills-based board, for which we are very grateful. They are working very hard to deliver on the Government’s agenda. A lot of people didn’t think we would, but we believe we can get to 1500 by 30 June. We have a big vision, there is nothing wrong with that and I appreciate the general support for where we are going, despite not supporting the creation of Homes Tasmania.
Ms HADDAD – No one is opposing homes being built minister, it is about the structure of things.
Ms O’CONNOR – It’s the structure, it’s the corporatisation of a public service.
Mr BARNETT – We did have a lot of debate in the parliament.
Ms HADDAD – It was worthy debate, because you have completely created a different corporate structure that removed them from the public sector.
Mr BARNETT – We did have a lot of debate and fortunately, we got it passed through the parliament, because, if we had not got is passed through the parliament in both Houses, we would not be sitting here with Homes Tasmania with a big agenda.
Ms O’CONNOR – No. You would be sitting there with Housing Tasmania with a big agenda. Which we had in previous years.
Mr BARNETT – Well things are now different; Homes Tasmania has got innovation at its core.
Ms O’CONNOR – Which they had in the Labor-Greens Government. They did.
Mr BARNETT – Chair, I am doing my best, thank you. I do not mind the interaction across the table, it is a healthy thing we have a difference of opinion, we can agree to disagree, but, we have a skills-based board. They are bringing those skills to the table, providing leadership and direction. They have been in since 1 December. The boards had about half a dozen meeting this year, directly, or official board meetings, but they have had so many other meetings. They meet with the stakeholders, they are so engaged-
Ms O’CONNOR – They always were.
Mr BARNETT – I know you would be encouraged. This is the Homes Tasmania board.
Ms O’CONNOR – Housing Tasmania was always engaged with stakeholders, there is no point having this conversation like that, sorry, it is over.
Mr BARNETT – I am assisting the committee in responding, and proud of that. It is based on innovation, they can obviously borrow, you have heard about the CO responding on borrowing on our asset. It is a very significant entity now in Tasmania, and it can borrow and it will borrow to get the job done to build those homes faster and what we are going to do. Since 2015, my understanding, the figures show we have delivered 2780.
