The Victorian Government has failed to respond to the formal recommendations from the Inquiry into Homelessness within the required six-month deadline.

This report was tabled in March 2021, outlining 51 recommendations to the Government that look to solve the homelessness crisis.

Rod Barton MP successfully moved the motion that began the inquiry. Since the tabling of the report, he has been inundated by frontline workers in the homelessness sector who are asking, ‘When will the Government respond?’

This inquiry took more than two years to complete, with 450 formal submissions and 18 hearings. It is a massive body of work that brought together experts across the sector.

Barton believes it is frankly disrespectful for this Government to ignore these recommendations given the worsening state of the housing crisis. Victorians are struggling to find affordable rentals and mortgage rates are rising. Many families are only a couple of paychecks away from homelessness.

Victorians deserve action on the homelessness crisis.

That is why Barton has made it one of his policies to advocate for it to become a statutory requirement that Government’s respond within the deadlines. This is one of many integrity reforms that are needed to keep this Government accountable and enhance transparency.

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Metropolitan and the Leader of the Transport Matters Party Rod Barton MP:

“The government has a responsibility to respond to these inquiries within six months. Their failure to meet this obligation undermines the integrity of the Parliament.”

“This homelessness report made so many urgent recommendations that have been ignored. In my next term of Parliament, I expect the crossbench will be looking at integrity legislation that will force Governments to respond within these timeframes.”

“The Government have the answers sitting on their desk yet do nothing. Meanwhile, thousands of Victorians are sleeping rough every night.”