The Federal Productivity Commission’s report into government services, released today, shows just how unresponsive and insensitive the State Government is to the housing crisis gripping Tasmania.
The report reveals that, of all states, Tasmania had in the 2018-19 financial year the highest proportion of people suffering repeat periods of homelessness. To make matters worse, the report shows the Tasmanian Government had cut funding to social and public housing. This was done at the height of the homelessness crisis, at a time when the Hobart Showgrounds was home to numerous people being forced to live in tents.
Safe and appropriate housing is a fundamental human right. The Tasmanian Government must stop relying on every other level of government to solve the housing crisis. This is actually a core state responsibility and the new Premier, Peter Gutwein, must act immediately to provide adequate housing and homelessness services to society’s most vulnerable.
The report can be found at: https://www.pc.gov.au/research/ongoing/report-on-government-services