Labor’s mismanagement of social housing is resulting in more and more regional communities being left without enough housing options for their most vulnerable residents.
In the six months to December 2023, both social and public housing stock across the state declined by 54 and 446 homes respectively, while the number of available bedrooms has reduced by 2733 since Labor announced its Big Housing Build in 2020.
The Nationals’ Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, said regional communities had failed to see any significant improvement when it came to social housing under the big build.
Locally, the Mitchell Shire has added just 30 new social housing properties since 2018, despite Seymour being listed as the location preference on 365 priority access applications for those seeking social housing, and the Broadford district featuring on a further 446 applications.
There has been similarly disappointing progress made within other areas of the region with the Benalla district adding just 32 new social houses since 2018 despite featuring on 398 priority access location preferences.
Meanwhile, the Strathbogie Shire, which has not been included as part of the big housing build, has actually seen a decrease in the amount of social housing, with three less properties than it had in 2018.
“Despite rapidly increasing demand and millions of taxpayer dollars being pumped into social housing developments like the Benalla West Project, Labor has failed to effectively improve the number of houses available for those who need it most,” Ms Cleeland said.
“After already failing to provide enough support to tackle issues such as homelessness, family violence, and mental health in the region, Labor’s inability to improve the social housing situation will have significant consequences.
“Our most vulnerable residents deserve access to social housing and access to crucial services, but under Labor they are being left behind.”
As of March 2024, despite Labor having already spent $2.9 billion of its $5.6 billion Big Housing Build, the number of Victorian families waiting for a home since 2018 had grown by 16,078.
Recent figures from Homes Victoria show 51,602 applications on the state’s housing waitlist, a number higher than any of the previous three quarters recorded.
“Labor can’t manage money, can’t manage projects, and vulnerable regional Victorians are paying the price,” Ms Cleeland said.
