The Hodgman Liberal Government is continuing to introduce Housing Connect, a fairer, more equitable, one-stop shop for all Tasmanians’ housing needs.
This replaces the previous fragmented housing services that were disjointed and failed to ensure those most in need were prioritised.
Misinformed scaremongering about this reform is not only wrong; it is potentially causing unnecessary worry to many Tasmanians.
Contrary to what some have claimed, prisoners will be able to apply for housing assistance before they are released, from July 1 when the new process begins.
Through Housing Connect, this assistance can take a number of forms, including supported accommodation, public housing, community housing, and rental assistance for private housing.
In other words, it is about matching the individual needs of clients because the fact of the matter is that those re-entering society after a custodial sentence need a wider range of services than REO alone.
Since Housing Connect is delivered by five community service organisations, including the Salvation Army, clients are also able to access more housing options.
It is also not true to say that funding has been cut as this funding has gone into housing services.
The program was originally funded for only two years under the previous Labor-Green government, with this Government then providing an additional year of funding through to 30 June to ensure Housing Connect was ready to subsume its role.
Housing Connect did not exist when REO was introduced.
During 2013-14, Housing Connect undertook 4318 support assessments for a range of clients to determine their level of need.
During the same period, only 71 clients were supported through the REO program, which is a fraction of those released after serving their sentences each year. For example, 701 ex-offenders were released in 2014.
The number of former REO clients accessing Housing Connect is, therefore, likely to be only around 1.6 per cent of all Housing Connect assessments.
However, they will now have access to the full range of Housing Connect services that they did not have in the past.
Under the Housing Connect model, all Tasmanians in need of housing will be assessed and prioritised according to their individual circumstances.
We do not believe Tasmanians would consider that it would be fair to provide housing to ex-offenders ahead of, for example, a young family who are homeless and literally living on the streets.
Ex-offenders will continue to receive housing services through Housing Connect and, in fact, will have access to a wider range of services that better meet their needs.
But we will not be putting ex-offenders ahead of those who are in greater need and we will make no apologies for that.