Thursday, 14 November 2019

 Mr QUILTY (Northern Victoria) (12:54): My constituency question is for the Minister for Housing. Can the minister provide figures showing how much government regulations, planning restrictions and other red tape contribute to the cost of housing in Benalla and other northern Victorian cities? Since 2014 the number of families in the Benalla area on the social housing waiting list has increased by 62 per cent. There will always be some amount of people who need a place to stay while they get back on their feet, but a growing list indicates a different problem. State and local red tape is driving up the cost of housing. Reports released this year suggest that red tape can make up to half the total cost of a new house. The mountain of fees and charges on new housing is driving a shortage and pushing people onto public housing waiting lists. This year the government has locked in new building permit taxes, stamp duty increases and engineer licensing bureaucracy. Government red tape is driving the housing crisis.

Sitting suspended 1.56 pm until 2.04 pm.