Burdekin residents sleeping in tents and farm sheds are being left without the answers they deserve according to Member for Burdekin Dale Last.
Over a month ago, Queensland Premier Steven Miles promised crisis accommodation for every homeless person in the state.
Mr Last, however, said the fact that his Housing Minister was yet to provide answers on what crisis accommodation was available for use in the Burdekin was a slap in the face to everyone sleeping rough in the region.
“Towns like Moranbah, Ayr, Home Hill and Bowen deserve to have a clear indication as to exactly what crisis accommodation is actually available to them and if the answer is none, then those communities deserve to know exactly what this Minister is actually doing to provide that accommodation,” Mr Last said.
“The fact that the Minister has failed to answer a question on notice on time, sends a clear message to the Burdekin that Labor has no interest in fulfilling promises and, as a result, families with newborn babies are left to sleep in a tent.”
Mr Last said while the housing crisis remained state-wide, in small regional towns the impact of that lack of housing is far reaching.
“As we know, we have to fight tooth and nail for the housing resources we do have in our regional towns and with the crushing season about to begin and harvesting in our horticulture sector already underway the pressure on our housing stock is only set to go up,” he said.
“While the spotlight on this issue has largely sat over cities in the south-east, small towns like Ayr, Home Hill, Bowen and Moranbah have been left in the dark and as a result we are seeing widespread impacts on our communities.
“If Labor was serious about ensuring everyone in the Burdekin electorate had a roof over their head and a warm bed to sleep in at night, the least they could do is provide an answer to a question on notice about what crisis accommodation is actually available.”
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