Ms ADDISON (Wendouree) (19:38): I direct my adjournment matter to the Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation. The action that I seek is for her to provide me with a detailed update of the measures that have been put in place to support residential tenants during the global pandemic.

The year 2020 has been very challenging for many Victorians, with great uncertainty and insecurity. It has been particularly difficult for many renters in my community of Ballarat as well as across Victoria.

Prior to the COVID pandemic in the Ballarat local government area we had approximately 25 per cent of households renting privately—one-quarter of all households in my community. For many residential tenants who lost their jobs or who had their hours reduced due to COVID, making the rent each month has been a cause of much worry and anxiety. Fear of losing their homes and having nowhere to go was a frightening prospect for individuals, couples and families.

Getting to the other side of this pandemic was hard, and being fearful of losing your home or not making the rent on time is something that no-one should be worried about while we work to stop the spread of this virus. I appreciate that this is a two-way street and it requires cooperation between landlords and tenants to work together to reach mutually agreeable positions.

This year has demonstrated just how important having a roof over your head can be. That is why I am proud that the Andrews Labor government is also supporting residential tenants by making a record level of investment of $5.3 billion to provide 12 000 new houses over the next four years, including a significant commitment to provide 9300 new social housing homes to make sure that the tenants have safe, secure and affordable housing.

I look forward to the minister’s response and reporting back to my community of Ballarat about how the Andrews Labor government is delivering for and supporting tenants in my electorate of Wendouree and also making Victoria not only a stronger and fairer place to live but place to work, as our budget this week has clearly outlined.

The issue of tenancy and residential tenants has been a priority of the Andrews Labor government over the last six years, and I am incredibly proud that we will continue to support tenants as well as landlords in our agenda to make Victoria an even better state.

Read the Minister’s response here – or for more of my contributions in Parliament, click here.