INDEPENDENT candidate for Mallee Sophie Baldwin has committed to hosting a housing summit, even if she loses the May 21 federal election.
Ms Baldwin said there were many issues impacting people in the Mallee, reducing their ability to build their businesses, with the lack of available housing a significant problem.
She said that, win or lose, she would host the summit with Independent candidate for the Senate, Susan Benedyka, bringing together experts and interested parties from across the Mallee to have a discussion about the impacts, needs and potential solutions to the current housing crisis in Mallee.
The forum will also be open to the public to bring their knowledge, ideas and passion to the discussions.
“We have childcare centres unable to get staff because there is no housing to support staff to live within a reasonable distance of work,” Ms Baldwin said.
“We have healthcare and education providers unable to get staff, because when they run a recruitment drive the lack of available housing means people cannot move their families into the area.
“Speaking to organisations across the Mallee, they tell me they have people eager to move into the area who spend months looking for somewhere to live or have to wait more than two years in most areas to build.
“If they try to provide an incentive to get builders out into the region, we would have nowhere they could live, to build places to live.”
Ms Baldwin said the electorate needed more than the “occasional pre-election cash splash”.
“We need government to listen to locals, to listen to those who are in the regions and to support them,” she said.
“Instead of hiding in Canberra, we need representatives who will support policies and processes that support practical, long-term sustainable solutions to the housing shortage.”
