Concerns have been raised around the number of vacant public houses in Gippsland.
In the midst of a housing crisis, The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien said it was very alarming to receive repeated reports of seemingly untenanted public housing properties.
“Right across the electorate I am regularly receiving reports of houses that appear to have been left vacant for months.
“I try to follow-up and get answers when these reports come in, but I very rarely get an answer, let alone a straight answer on why the properties appear to be untenanted.
“Most recently I have asked the Minister to respond to claims that up to six properties on Marley Street in Sale have been left untenanted for months, reportedly due to lack of funds for required maintenance.”
Mr O’Brien said he understood that privacy is important and that properties could be vacant for a number of reasons, but that Gippslanders deserve answers.
“Here in Gippsland South we currently have less social housing available now than we did 10 years ago despite repeated claims of large investments from the Allan Labor Government.
“I am regularly contacted for help by people who are at risk of homelessness and I abhor the idea that anyone is sleeping rough just because our state government couldn’t manage a maintenance schedule or cut through some red tape.”
According to the Australian Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services 2025 Victoria has alarmingly low rates of occupancy in social housing which consists of public and community housing.
The report shows that as of 30 June 2024, only 95.6 per cent of public housing was occupied and just 88.4 per cent of community housing.
“These figures are well below the national average of 96.6 and 94.8 per cent respectively.
“We have more than 55,000 Victorians on the public housing waitlist so to hear that so many houses are sitting vacant is inexcusable.”