Tuesday, 17 October 2023

 Kat THEOPHANOUS (Northcote) (15:10): (353) My question is to the Minister for Housing, and I ask: how will the reforms in the Victorian Housing Statement ease housing pressure in the electorate of Northcote? The reality of housing stress in the inner north is acute, and I have spoken to many people who are living in extremely tenuous circumstances. That includes those living on the housing register, in rentals and with mortgages, and sadly, we have seen homelessness increase in our community. Housing supply is a major barrier to getting more people into safe and secure homes, and it has been especially frustrating to see land sitting vacant across our suburbs which could be activated rather than asset-banked by developers. Our government recognises the gravity of the housing crisis and the need for a response that matches the scale of the task at hand. We are streamlining planning, limiting rent increases, expanding social housing, making it easier to build a granny flat and taxing long-term land banking. In the inner north the work to deliver more homes must be cleverly planned to also meet our need for more services, open spaces, sustainability and the preservation of our unique northside character.