Harrowing new child homelessness data has shone a light on the Liberals’ failure deliver sufficient housing supply over the past 10 years.

According to Homelessness Australia, in 2022-2023, 637 Tasmanian children were homeless. 413 Tasmanian children presented alone to homelessness services, and  816 did as part of a family.

Tasmania is in the middle of a housing crisis. The best way to address this crisis and address homelessness is to increase supply – particularly social and affordable stock, but also general stock to decrease demand.

The Liberals have failed to deliver on their promise from 10 years ago to deliver a single statewide planning scheme that would make approvals “fairer, faster, cheaper, simpler.”

The latest ABS data shows that building approvals have slumped and are now trending downwards, below levels that were being achieved in 2017.

The Liberals set a target to build 10,000 new social and affordable homes by 2032, but last month, Housing Minister Felix Ellis was caught out watering down the commitment to include vacant lots and shared equity purchases.

The Minister was also forced to admit that the Liberals had only built six homes in six years under their “fast-track” housing policy.

The Liberals have a clear track record of failing to deliver on housing and vulnerable Tasmanians are suffering as a result. 

It begs the question, why on earth are the Greens and the Liberals teaming up to block nearly 2,000 homes from being built at UTAS’ Sandy Bay campus in the middle of a housing crisis?.

Shane Broad MP
Shadow Minister for Housing