The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien has called out the Allan Labor Government for failing to improve the availability of social housing in Gippsland.
Mr O’Brien said despite ongoing claims about the Big Build, social housing stock in Gippsland South continues to come under pressure, with 147 homes across the Gippsland South electorate currently unavailable.
In March, Mr O’Brien questioned the Government on how many public housing homes across the region were sitting empty or unavailable while local families remain on waiting lists.
In response, the Minister confirmed that only 94.3 per cent of public housing stock across the region is currently occupied or otherwise available for tenancy.
Mr O’Brien said the figure raises ongoing concerns about system efficiency at a time of sustained housing pressure.
“At a time when demand for housing is so high, every effort must be made to ensure public housing is brought back into use as quickly as possible,” Mr O’Brien said.
“It is not good enough if homes are sitting out of circulation for extended periods while families are waiting.”
The Minister confirmed that, of the 147 vacant properties, 40 are “scoped for general capital upgrade works”, with a further 11 properties earmarked for disposal through demolition or sale.
Mr O’Brien said this raises serious questions about transparency and planning.
“The Minister has pointed to 40 properties being scoped for upgrades, but there is no detail on how long they have been vacant or when they will return to use,” he said.
“At the same time, 11 properties are being removed from the system through demolition or sale and the community deserves to know if, and when, they will be replaced.”
Mr O’Brien said Gippslanders deserved their fair share of investment in social housing and better outcomes from government.
“Gippslanders deserve their fair share when it comes to housing investment and support.
“Instead, we are seeing continued pressure on supply and too little transparency about how the system is being managed.”
Mr O’Brien said only The Nationals in government would deliver the fresh start the region needs.
