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Melina Bath denounces Andrews Labor government statement on housing as fictional and shameless fabrication

Melina Bath, an Eastern Victoria Region Nationals Member, criticises the Andrews government's Housing Statement as fictional, citing broken promises, mismanagement, and a growing housing crisis in Victoria.

By news@gippsland - 21st September 2023 - Back to News

The Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Melina Bath has labelled the Andrews government's recent Housing Statement as "fictional" and "shameless fabrication". The Andrews government this week finally released its Housing Statement for Victoria promising 800,000 new homes in the next decade. It comes after the Premier established Housing Victoria in 2020 claiming Labor would construct more than 12,000 new homes throughout metro and regional Victoria.

Ms. Bath highlighted that since 2018, Victoria's public housing has seen a meager net increase of 74 residences annually, while Daniel Andrews promises 80,000 homes yearly

Housing crisis critique

Ms Bath said social and affordable housing in Victoria was going backwards at an alarming rate under Labor. "Given Daniel Andrews has failed to deliver the promised 12,000 new homes in the last three years with a $5.6 billion budget, there's zero chance Labor will be able to deliver 800,000 homes in 10 years."

"There is no plan for housing in the state - Labor's latest offering is a glossy document that will do little to turn the tide on Daniel Andrews housing mess and assist vulnerable people. Housing has stymied under Labor due to 50 new taxes, rising cost of living, record debt, resource shortages from the closure of the native timber industry, labour skill shortages, and billion dollar budget blowouts."

"Vulnerable Victorians are further away today from achieving a safe, secure, and affordable roof over their heads than they were eight years ago under the Labor government. In regional Victoria homelessness has become a huge problem and our support services are struggling with increased demand," Ms Bath said.

Public housing sell-off

Ms Bath said Labor has been undertaking a massive sell off of Victoria's public housing, since 2018 - there's only been a net increase of 74 residences in the state's social housing stock, a mere 15.6 houses a year.

"Now Daniel Andrews is claiming he will deliver 80,000 each year for 10 years - it's pure fabrication. Meanwhile, there's been a doubling of the public housing waitlist in the state over the past eight years - 68,000 Victorians are stuck on the waitlist, 33,727 more than in 2016," Ms Bath said.

Critical assessment of crisis

Ms Bath added, "Labor has turbo-charged a social and affordable housing crisis in Victoria and it's not delivering the solutions needed to fix it. If past performance is a good indicator of future performance, Labor's Housing statement is all spin and no substance."

"Frustratingly, securing a home in Victoria is now out of the reach of far too many. The shortage in social and affordable homes is a direct consequence of Labor's bad management and vulnerable Victorians deserve better," Ms Bath said.

Pictures from Melina Bath MP Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com