Public housing and regional development going backwards

Tens of thousands of Victorians continue to wait for a secure place to call home as the Allan Labor Government continues to dismiss concerns around Victoria’s stagnating public housing stock.

Under questioning at a Public Accounts and Estimates Committee (PAEC) hearing recently, the Minister for Housing failed to explain why the government’s own target number of total public housing properties has been reduced in 2024-25 compared with 2023-24.

This comes as the recent State Budget cut $40 million for housing assistance housing initiatives while Labor’s record debt is set to reach $187.8 billion by 2028.

Nationals Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland said housing continued to be a major concern for communities across the region.

“Labor cannot manage money, cannot manage public housing, and regional Victorians are paying the price,” Ms Cleeland said.

“With Victoria’s public housing waitlist at near record highs under Labor, there is no excuse to be cutting targets for the number of public housing properties in Victoria.

“Projects like the Benalla West development continue to see cost blowouts and delays, leaving locals in need without suitable housing.”

PAEC hearings also revealed the Growing Suburbs Fund has been cut over numerous years, being reduced from $50 million to $10 million and then to $5 million in the last three budgets.

Ms Cleeland said this lack of investment into the southern part of the electorate like Kilmore and Broadford meant they were missing many of the basic amenities Melburnians in established suburbs take for granted.

“Victoria’s growth suburbs desperately need the infrastructure and services that their established counterparts already have, particularly when it comes to housing and schools, Ms Cleeland said.