Thursday, 31 July 2025

Housing affordability

Martha HAYLETT (Ripon) (17:36): (1240) My adjournment matter is for the attention of the Minister for Regional Development in the other place. The action I seek is that the minister joins me in my electorate to meet with workers who will benefit from access to more affordable housing in our rural communities. Access to affordable housing remains one of the biggest issues facing communities in Ripon. There are still next to no rental vacancies in Ararat and St Arnaud, with local businesses calling out for more homes to be built for workers. In Maryborough our industries are struggling with a lack of housing supply as well, which is impacting their ability to grow.

I am so proud that our state Labor government has already started to address this issue, with $150 million delivered statewide last year through round 1 of the state government’s Regional Worker Accommodation Fund. It included funding for 10 new homes to be built for workers in Beaufort, including those in the agriculture, healthcare, construction and manufacturing sectors. The Pyrenees Shire Council has acquired land on Burke Street in Beaufort to build these 10 homes containing a total of 24 bedrooms for workers. It sounds like a small number of homes, but it will make a huge difference to Beaufort. It will boost our local economy and mean more businesses will be able to recruit and retain workers in our region. I cannot wait to hear the outcome of round 2 of the Regional Worker Accommodation Fund, as I know that there are many applications for more homes across Ripon. I welcome the minister to visit and meet with workers who will benefit from more affordable housing, and I look forward to hosting her in Ripon.