Petition to the House of Assembly of Tasmania
To the Honourable Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly of Tasmania,
We, the undersigned, draw to the attention of Parliament the urgent and measurable failure of housing affordability settings and access pathways in Tasmania, particularly within the North-West region including Devonport and surrounding communities.
Tasmania recorded 2,350 people experiencing homelessness in the 2021 Census — an increase of approximately 45 per cent from 2016, representing the largest proportional rise of any Australian jurisdiction. A significant portion of this homelessness is concentrated in the West and North-West regions of the state.
At the same time, rental market data shows that median rents in Devonport and surrounding areas substantially exceed the capacity of low-income households. Current market indicators place:
Three-bedroom homes at approximately $470–$480 per week
Four-bedroom homes at $550 per week or more
Units at approximately $370 per week
One-bedroom units at approximately $305 per week
Where government-defined “affordable” housing pathways fail to bridge the gap between household income and actual rental conditions, eligibility does not translate into access. Individuals and families are instead pushed into insecure accommodation — caravan parks, cabins, overcrowded households, or unstable short-term arrangements without long-term security of tenure.
We are particularly concerned about the disproportionate impact on people with disability. Housing affordability frameworks that appear neutral in structure may result in indirect discrimination where disability incomes cannot meet affordability thresholds and no reasonable adjustments are available. Disabled Tasmanians face heightened vulnerability to housing insecurity under current market conditions.
Australia is party to international agreements recognising the right to adequate housing and protection against disability discrimination. Adequate housing includes affordability, accessibility, habitability, and security of tenure. The measurable growth in homelessness alongside escalating rental costs raises serious concern that housing access in Tasmania is regressing rather than progressing.
We therefore respectfully call upon the Parliament of Tasmania to:
Undertake a full Parliamentary Inquiry into housing affordability calibration across Tasmania, with specific focus on the North-West region.
Examine the methodology used to determine “affordable” rental thresholds and the frequency of their review.
Require publication of transparent outcome data including applications, approvals, tenancy placements, and tenancy sustainment rates under public and affordable housing programs.
Assess the disability impact of current housing affordability frameworks, including compliance with anti-discrimination obligations.
Review whether current policy settings are evidence-based, fit for purpose, and capable of addressing rising homelessness.
Take urgent corrective action to align affordability mechanisms with real rental market conditions so that housing policy functions in practice, not merely in principle.
Housing is foundational to dignity, safety, health, and full participation in society. When homelessness rises sharply and affordability systems fail to deliver real access, foreseeable harm becomes preventable harm.
We respectfully urge the Parliament to treat this matter with urgency, transparency, and accountability.
And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.