$45k for crisis details

TASSIE taxpayers will fund a $45,000 advertising campaign to tell people what the Government is doing to help the state’s housing crisis.

Housing Minister Roger Jaensch unveiled the campaign that he said was aimed at connecting Tasmanians in need with safe and affordable housing options.

But Labor’s housing spokesman Josh Willie said the initiative was nothing more than taxpayer-funded spin and was an insult to Tasmanians caught in the housing crisis.

A THREE-WEEK advertising blitz to spruik the State Government’s actions to address the housing crisis has been labelled taxpayer-funded political spin by Labor.

Housing Minister Roger Jaensch yesterday revealed the State Government would spend $45,000 on a threeweek advertising blitz aimed at increasing public awareness of the Government’s efforts to fix Tasmania’s housing crisis.

The campaign, which was promised after the urgent Housing summit held in March, will include print, radio and social media advertising.

Labor housing spokesman Josh Willie said the announcement was an insult to people caught in the housing crisis.

Mr Willie said Labor would support facts being presented, but “what has been presented is a highly political document.”

“What Minister Jaensch is proposing to do is spend $45,000 of taxpayers’ money on a Liberal propaganda campaign telling people how they are helping them through the housing crisis while they’re sleeping rough and sleeping in tents,” Mr Willie said.

“It could be better spent on immediately assisting people who are homeless, who are suffering from the housing crisis, it could go toward bond assistance or a whole range of other measures.”

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor also questioned why the Liberals were spending taxpayer funds on advertising.

“With Winter fast approaching, there is still no plan to tackle the shortage of affordable housing,” Ms O’Connor said.

“Better Minister Jaensch focus on that, than spend public funds on an ad campaign. Desperate people are counting on him for a home, not an ad.”

Minister Jaensch said the campaign was aimed at informing and connecting Tasmanians in need with safe and affordable housing options, including emergency accommodation.

“All the services, the systems and incentives that we’re offering are of no use if people don’t know what they are,” Mr Jaensch said.

One incentive that has been announced would provide up to $13,000 to landlords who rent their homes to low-income Tasmanians.

Mr Jaensch said eligibility criteria would be released next month to people who had registered their interest in the program.

Mr Willie said the public should know by now the eligibility criteria for the scheme.

A link to the new website can be found here: www.hous ing.tas.gov.au.