LABOR’S $1M SURF SAFETY PLEDGE:
WELFARE groups in Geelong say the state’s major parties should be doing more to address disadvantage across the region.
As Labor and the Liberals make a flurry of promises in the lead-up to Saturday’s election, two leading social welfare advocates have called for more commitments targeting various issues including housing affordability and mental health.
Give Where You Live CEO Bill Mithen and SalvoConnect Barwon director Lorrinda Hamilton are leading the push for more attention to centre on social welfare issues.
Mr Mithen said, while he was pleased with some of the pre-election announcements — including Labor’s pledge to introduce free dental care for state school students — further work was needed.
He said he was particularly disappointed neither of the major parties had committed to funding the Northern ARC health and wellbeing hub in Norlane.
“That’s a really good project for the northern suburbs; it’s important and will be a really good community facility,” Mr Mithen said.
He lauded Labor’s pledge to build 1000 new public housing units across the state, but said it would not be enough to address a supply shortage, especially in the Barwon region which has a waiting list of 2500 people.
“Any promise to increase stock of public housing is a good promise, but I think it’s only a start and there still needs to be further investigation and conversation on what new (housing) models we can come up with to slash the waiting list,” Mr Mithen said.
“Many of the people on our waiting list are looking for two bedroom homes, but some of the stock we have doesn’t match that.”
The shortage of public housing units has long been a bugbear for Geelong welfare agencies, who say the issue is leading to added strains on their services.
Ms Hamilton said the next state government needed to commit to adding 3000 new public housing properties to the market each year.
“The housing crisis in Victoria and specifically Geelong is pushing people into housing stress and homelessness,” she said.
“At the Salvation Army we see people every day who can’t afford their rent, are on the brink of being evicted or already homeless.
“We believe that the Government has a responsibility to make sure that all Victorians have a safe and affordable place to call home.”
Ms Hamilton said a comprehensive drug and alcohol strategy was also needed, while she called on the major parties to commit to funding community mental health services to run alongside the NDIS.
“For people with mental illness who have no family support, community mental health services can be the difference between staying well, ending up in hospital or becoming homeless,” she said.
“Most of the Victorian community mental health budget was given over to the National Disability Insurance Scheme, leaving a huge gap for thousands of people.”