Media release from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Housing, Gerard Maley:
Today the CLP Opposition has raised some serious concerns in relation to the large amount of outstanding rent from Territory housing, impacting the Territory budget.
Shadow Minister for Housing Gerard Maley said “Today we uncovered Labor in addition to the $69.7 million in remote rent Labor wrote off last year, this year they accumulated another
$6.8 million in unpaid remote rent and $4.75 million in unpaid urban rent. That means Territorians are losing $130,000 per week in unpaid rent.”
“About $800,000 in additional unpaid remote rent is accumulating per month, despite Labor’s efforts to ‘streamline’ the payment and collections processes.”
“Labor’s Housing Minister admitted that the large rental arrears figures meant that she could deliver less programs in housing, yet she had no real plan to recoup this cost.”
“This not only has an impact on the already diabolical level of debt under Territory Labor, but also is not fair for all those Territory Housing residents who do the right thing.”
“It’s also very concerning that the Minister sat there spruiking a strict process for those residents in Territory housing that do the wrong thing, when we know this is not true.”
“We have been contacted by Territorians who have been dealing with violent and destructive tenants terrorising our suburbs for years, with countless reports made and no action taken.”
“Recently we raised a specific example in relation to a cul-de-sac in Malak where locals had been suffering for 5 years. The actions taken by the Minister was to have her Department deliver a pamphlet to the street on ‘Options for neighbours’.”
“This Minister like her Labor buddies is completely out of touch with what is really going on, and therefore unable to provide better outcomes for Territorians.”
What we know so far:
