Shaping the future of public housing in Tasmania

The Minister for Health and Human Services, Lara Giddings, has announced a three month public consultation process on the way ahead for public housing in Tasmania.

Ms Giddings said the independent consultation process would particularly focus on the management of public housing assets, and how to improve housing outcomes for tenants and low income Tasmanians.

“Our 11,500 public housing properties are one of the Tasmanian Government’s most significant assets, worth around $1.6 billion,” Ms Giddings said.

“It is vital that we utilise this asset as best we can, and provide the greatest level of affordable housing possible for Tasmanians in need.

“Over the coming three months we will consult widely with the community sector, industry, Housing Tasmania staff and tenants and low income Tasmanians, to look at innovative ways of improving and expanding our public housing stock. 

 “Housing Tasmania staff have done an excellent job, however, the increase in interest rates and the growing pressure on the private rental market means we need to look at new and different ways of managing the public housing stock to meet the need.

“We also need to look at how we ensure the sustainability of our asset, including maintenance.

“In conjunction with this piece of work I have asked Housing Tasmania to work with the Social Inclusion Unit to progress work around equitable rent setting for public housing tenants.

“The Government has no preconceived position on these issues and we are genuinely interested in seeking the community’s views on the best way forward.

“This is not about privatising public housing, nor making a profit from public housing; it is about the sustainability of housing in a changing environment,” Ms Giddings said.