Shadow Minister for Housing, Richard Riordan, has slammed the Allan Labor Government for its failure to deliver on housing and homelessness, as new figures reveal a massive shortfall in social and affordable housing delivery.
When Labor launched its Big Housing Build in 2020, it promised at least 8700 new social housing homes, which was a 10 per cent increase in Victoria’s social housing stock. But as of June 2024, only 2614 homes have been completed – just 30 per cent of the original target, despite $3 billion in taxpayer funding.
Appearing before the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee (PAEC) today, the Minister for Housing Harriet Shing refused to answer any legitimate questions, about the $3 billion cost blowout on the delivery shortfall.
The human impact of this failure is devastating. Since the Big Build began, the number of families on the Victorian Housing Register has ballooned by 24.5 per cent. A record 66,117 families are now waiting for a safe and secure place to call home.
Labor has also fallen well short on its Affordable Housing promises. The Government committed to building 2900 Affordable Homes, but PAEC hearings revealed just 608 have been completed. The remaining homes are now delayed until 2029, which is cold comfort to Victorians desperate for an affordable home.
With 42 per cent of low-income renters experiencing rental stress and the private rental crisis deepening, the Allan Labor Government’s slow response, lack of accountability, and absence of any clear plan beyond the Big Housing Build leave thousands of Victorians behind.
Shadow Minister for Housing and Planning, Richard Riordan said: “Instead of real solutions, Labor is offering a divisive set of planning reforms and a train tunnel hardly a credible answer to the state’s growing housing crisis.”
“Labor can’t manage money, can’t manage housing, and Victorians are paying the price,” Mr Riordan said.