Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull has called on local Labor MP and Housing Minister, Harriet Shing, to address the increasing homelessness crisis in East Gippsland.

 “Time and time again we have Labor MP’s coming into the Chamber spruiking the new homes under their Big Housing Build – but it is all a charade as they are not ‘additional’ homes,” said Mr Bull.

“While some new public housing residences being built, a trend observed throughout the state involves the accelerated sale of existing housing stock, resulting in less public housing homes, and East Gippsland Shire is a classic example.

“The government’s own figures show that in June 2017 we had 933 public housing residences in East Gippsland Shire, and in June 2023 we had 931 – that is a reduction of two homes in the past seven years. Is it any wonder we have a burgeoning crisis?

“However, every time we raise this in the Chamber or publicly, all Harriet and her colleagues talk about is the number of ‘new’ homes – which to a large degree is irrelevant when we are talking about a roof over your head.

“In East Gippsland, like much of the state, we have an increasing number of homeless under Labor:

• *Significantly increases taxes on landlords that are passed on to renters, who then find the rent unaffordable;
• *Tax landlords to a degree many are leaving the sector to invest in other areas impacting the number of homes available to low income earning renters;
• *Has overseen a 30% increase in power bills with paltry supports and subsidies in place, when it promised to bring power prices down;
• *Is charging parents more than any other state to send a student to a public school;
• *Introduced taxes that make it more expensive for families to see a doctor;
• *Has got itself in so much debt - $165 billion by 2025-26 - it is currently paying $15 million in interest a day on its borrowings.

“The point is, people are not becoming homeless by accident. This government is making it tougher for families with the decisions it is making. What is even more scary is they are putting more money on the credit card as they pursue the Suburban Rail Loop at a cost of another $34.5 billion.

“Last year I met with agencies dealing with the homelessness issue, including St Vinnies and our local council, and warned that we were going to face an increasing crisis as the cost-of-living pressures kicked in. It is a matter I have also raised continually in the Chamber at Parliament and suggested policy solutions that would assist, but the government just sticks to its lines of how much it is spending and how many new homes it is building, which is all nonsense when it comes to addressing the problem.

“Ms Shing needs to come to East Gippsland, which is her electorate, and explain why she is supporting the building of the SRL while increasing state debt to unmanageable levels that makes life more difficult for low-income earners and, at the same time, she is providing less public housing residences in our region.

“You cannot continue to get up and simply spruik the line you want to spruik that sounds good, and not addressing the problems we face. It is time she answered the real questions for her electorate and portfolio,” Mr Bull said.

Monday, 26 February 2024