HOW EXTRAORDINARY THAT ON THE HEELS OF SUCH A DAMNING REPORT -
LABOR'S RESPONSE IN VIC IS TO DO MORE OF THE SAME !!!
http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/reform-growth-and-better-outcomes-for-social-housing/
Labor wants to continue to throw obscene amounts of money at the private sector to 'incentivise' them to do what is essentially the Government's responsibility - to fix the housing crisis and halt accelerating homelessness and destitution.
The report states
"A further $100 million in low-cost loans will also be made available to registered housing associations." "The $1 billion Social Housing Growth Fund, a collaboration between government, the private and philanthropic sectors, will provide dedicated assistance to community housing associations to help support up to 2200 households."
Ominously, there is no specific mention of Public Housing in the press release, except to declare its privatisation.
"The management of 4,000 public housing properties will be transferred to the community housing sector to improve services to tenants through better property management, local housing services, access to support services and grow social housing."
How does address the housing crisis ?? It doesn't. It reflects Labor's determination to push through covert privatisation plans it has been developing for years.
Of course there's no mention of the perpetual stream of Commonwealth Rent Assistance, not required by Public Housing tenants whatsoever, which is needed to prop up these organisations. This money directly benefits the Community Housing barons - it is dead money which could be better spent building more public housing.
Our diverse public housing tenants - many who have disabilities, are from Cultures other than English ( CALD ) or are elderly pensioners, are being treated like third-class citizens and chattel by Labor. As Adam Bandt says - with 'contempt'.
Public tenants stand to lose many, many rights and protections at a time when housing security is more important than ever...
This is an attack on public housing - and on the rights of public tenants.
SHAME ON LABOR !
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ON THE SAME DAY, GREENS FEDERAL MEMBER, ADAM BANDT, ISSUED A SWIFT RESPONSE TO MARTIN FOLEY.
"GREENS DEMAND LABOR STOP PUBLIC HOUSING HAND OFF."
Victorian Labor must not hand over 4,000 public housing properties to third parties, said Greens MP Adam Bandt, whose electorate of Melbourne has more public housing than any other in the country.
“We need more public housing, not less,” Mr Bandt said.
“Community housing is an important part of Melbourne’s housing mix, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of public housing.”
“Public housing is under attack. The Federal Coalition is slashing housing funding while Victorian Labor is handing away public housing homes.”
“Victorian Labor has sat on its hands since being elected while people in need are waiting for years for a secure home.”
“There was a time long ago when the Labor party believed in building public assets like public housing, but it seems they are now just following the Liberals’ privatisation agenda.”
“Only the Greens have a plan to tackle Melbourne’s housing crisis, make housing more affordable and invest in public housing.”
“If the Labor party continues to take public housing residents for granted, they stand to lose several inner city seats at the next Victorian election.”
Several things struck me about the above Premier's press release
ReplyDeleteFirst, for some time now, interest rates have been at all-time lows, so the building of new housing for those in most need is hardly being hampered by the cost of interest - but by lack of government equity! Low interest loans won’t help.
Second, it claims that they will use Social Housing Growth Fund to "build new social and affordable homes, and subsidise rent"
Other than the vague "to help support up to 2200" why are there no specific numbers on the benefits? Where’s the modelling or the detail? Eg how many new families or households are expected to be accommodated??
Also, it's stated:
"The management of 4000 public housing properties will be transferred to the community housing sector to improve services to tenants through better property management, local housing services, access to support services and grow social housing."
A couple of observations:
1) There's no explanation of how improve services to tenants would be improved – probably because they won't!
For example:
If household income drops, rents would likely not be adjusted
Tenancies are often much shorter
2 ) While transferring the management of public housing properties does "grow social housing", it’s only at the expense of cutting public housing – so the growth in total housing for those in most need is zero!
Gordon O'Reilly