Tuesday, 16 May 2023

Commonwealth Games

Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) (16:56): (202) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Commonwealth Games Legacy. The 2026 Commonwealth Games, to be hosted in regional Victoria, has been touted by the government as an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy, including with respect to housing. However, to date the government have failed to detail how they will use this opportunity to address the housing shortage in regional Victoria or ensure that the games do not make it worse. Regional Victoria is already experiencing a housing crisis. Homelessness is on the rise and is expected to increase. According to the latest census data, for the first time this century population growth in Victoria’s regions has outpaced that in Melbourne, but regional home building, including public and community housing, has not kept up. Vacancy rates are extraordinarily low. There are hardly any rentals in some areas, let alone affordable rentals for those on low incomes. In the two years to June 2022, regional rent increases outpaced rent rises in capital cities.

The Victorian government has promised some of the 2026 Commonwealth Games athletes villages will be converted into affordable housing when the games end. While any increase in affordable housing is welcome, the Labor government should be going much further. The games should be an opportunity to significantly increase Victoria’s regional stock of public housing, housing for Aboriginal-controlled community organisations and key worker housing. The government have also failed to outline what steps they will take to ensure that the games do not deepen the housing crisis for regional Victorians. We know that major sporting events like the Commonwealth Games can actually further exacerbate housing shortages. Games staff and tourists increase demand for housing and incentivise people to convert long-term rentals to short stays, potentially displacing people from their homes. Prices for rentals can increase. We know that the rents increased 400 per cent in London during the Olympics and never came back down. There is also evidence that major sporting events increase demand for crisis accommodation due to higher levels of family violence, while the availability of many types of accommodation used by people in crisis, such as caravan parks, is lower. We have heard these sentiments echoed by regional councils and peak housing bodies. I ask the minister to publicly commit to measures that protect renters and those needing crisis accommodation during the Commonwealth Games and agree to allocate at least 30 per cent of our athletes villages to public housing at their conclusion.