The Nationals’ Member for Morwell Martin Cameron has questioned the Minister for Consumer Affairs over the disproportionate number of rooming houses in Morwell.
Speaking in State Parliament last week, Mr Cameron said there were 17 rooming houses in Morwell representing 106 bedrooms – more than double the number of rooming houses in Traralgon.
“There are significant issues that come with this heavy concentration of rooming houses which are undeniably having a disastrous impact on public safety, particularly in the Morwell CBD,” Mr Cameron said.
“Rooming houses are overwhelmingly occupied by transient people, many of them recently released from prison, and they’re being pushed out of Melbourne into Morwell because the rent is relatively cheap.
“Police tell me a lot of their resources are being taken up responding to incidents involving rooming house residents, and we are seeing that play out on the streets with a sharp increase in criminal and anti-social behaviour.
“The Business Licensing Authority (BLA), which is responsible for providing licenses for rooming houses, claims it ‘balance[s] the interests of business, consumers and the public’ when granting licenses for rooming houses.
“But Morwell is a stark example that proves the BLA is failing to do this with the proliferation of 17 rooming houses representing 106 bedrooms, and the reality is there are likely rogue providers offering rooming house accommodation that isn’t registered with Consumer Affairs.
“Rooming houses have a role to play in offering housing to disadvantaged individuals, but the overrepresentation of rooming houses in Morwell must be addressed because it’s destroying the town.
“I have asked the Minister for Consumer Affairs to take urgent action in investigating and reviewing the disproportionate number of rooming houses in Morwell.”
The Minister is required to respond within 30 days.
