THE state government has been told to back off on rent hikes for pensioners living in public housing.
The Weekly last month revealed public housing tenants could pay higher rents in the wake of a damning report into the management of public housing.
A Victorian Auditor-General’s report found a system close to collapse with about 10,000 properties almost obsolete and 38,000 people languishing on a lengthy waiting list.
Public housing tenant Val Mullally said the possibility of a rent rise when pension increases were rolled out later this month was extremely worrying.
Almost 22,000 pensioners in the Maribyrnong electorate will receive a tax-free, lump-sum payment of up to $250 followed by a fortnightly pension increase from next March of $338 a year for single pensioners and $510 a year for pensioner couples.
Maribyrnong MP Bill Shorten said he would write to state Housing Minister Wendy Lovell.
“This money is for my local pensioners. It’s not for Ted Baillieu.”
