Labor’s housing failure leaves regional Victoria behind

The Nationals Member for Ovens Valley, Tim McCurdy, has slammed Premier Jacinta Allan and the Labor Government for falling a staggering 20,000 homes short of their own housing target in 2024, leaving regional communities once again out in the cold.

“Labor promised 80,000 new homes a year. They didn’t even come close,” Mr McCurdy said. “Victorians, particularly in regional areas, are feeling the consequences of Labor’s mismanagement, broken promises and hollow press releases.”

Australian Bureau of Statistics data released this week confirms that only 60,151 homes were completed in 2024, far below the benchmark needed to meet Labor’s decade-long goal of 800,000 new homes by 2034.

“This is a Premier who claims housing is a top priority, yet under her leadership, Victoria continues to fall further behind,” Mr McCurdy said. “Regional families, renters and first-home buyers are being let down while Labor stumbles from failure to failure.”

Despite claims of future escalation, Mr McCurdy warned that approvals and construction starts remain sluggish, compounding the problem for regions already battling chronic housing shortages.

“In towns like Wangaratta, Yarrawonga and Bright, people are already struggling to find somewhere to live. Labor’s broken housing promises only deepen the crisis,” he said.

“Labor can’t manage money, they can’t manage housing, and now they can’t even meet their own targets. Regional Victorians deserve better than this ongoing neglect.”

Mr McCurdy renewed calls for real investment in regional housing, planning reform, and local infrastructure to help communities keep pace with demand.