Housing Minister Harriet Shing said the Productivity Commission was using old figures and that in March this year less than 1.8 per cent of public houses were empty and ready to be re-let .
“We are working hard to ensure all empty properties are let as soon as possible with over 7,000 households moving into social housing last year, a 29% increase on the previous year,” Shing said .
“We are also investing record amounts to increase the supply of social housing across the state – with a historic $5.3 billion of housebuilding, we are on track to deliver at least 12,000 new social and affordable homes to help housing applicants on the Victorian Housing Register.”
This month's budget, which sees net debt reaching $187.8 billion by June 2028, delayed a number of infrastructure projects that Treasurer Tim Pallas insisted would “better reflect the force's ability to work”. Labor says it wants to build 800,000 homes over a decade, despite approvals for house building falling in a decade.
The Productivity Commission's mid-year report has reignited the debate over whether Labor is doing enough for Victorians at risk of homelessness after nearly a decade in power.
Shadow housing minister Richard Riordan said the figures confirmed once again that public housing was in decline under Labour.
“It is shameful that after a decade of work and billions of dollars spent, more than 60,000 families are left in desperate need of a home while waiting times continue to increase,” Riordan said.
“The big workhouse scam is misdirected, mismanaged and under-delivers services to homeless Victorians.”
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Former Greens leader Samantha Ratnam, the party's public and affordable housing spokesperson, also said the situation was dire.
“The Victorian Labor Government must immediately increase funding for the maintenance of public housing to ensure more Victorians in need of housing can have a roof over their heads,” he said.
This month's budget allocated an additional $19 million to help public housing tenants get their requests for assistance resolved more quickly and efficiently.
The Productivity Commission's mid-year update also suggests Victoria maintains the second-worst community housing occupancy rate, behind only the ACT.
Public housing is owned and operated by the state government, while community housing is operated, but not always owned, by non-profit organizations. In either case, tenants pay below-market rent. Social or affordable housing is the umbrella term that applies to both models.
Community Housing Industry Association of Victoria chief executive Sarah Toohey said it took an average of 25 days to re-let community housing in Victoria.
“Victorians are experiencing the worst housing crisis of their lives,” Mr Toohey said. “Our state needs a lot more social housing and it needs to be filled as soon as possible.”
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