Mark Gaetani Being Interviewed by ABC Radio in Hobart on 5 August 2025

Heather, thank you for inviting me to speak during Homelessness Week.   

Tasmania’s long, harsh winters bring unique challenges for those without a safe home. My family and I are deeply grateful every day to have security and warmth, knowing countless others in our community do not. This lies at the heart of my continuing commitment to the St Vincent de Paul Society, working with members, volunteers, and staff to support people facing poverty, homelessness, housing stress or cost-of-living pressures.  

Let me take you back, briefly, to 1830s Paris. In a city marked by hardship, a 20-year-old university student named Frédéric Ozanam, one of the Society’s founders, challenged his friends to turn their faith into action, offering practical help to those most in need. This spirit gave birth to the St Vincent de Paul Society. Nearly 200 years later and half a world away, that spirit endures as we continue those “good works” here in Tasmania and across Australia.  

The need for our efforts is as pressing as ever. The last Census revealed 2,350 Tasmanians were homeless, a rise of 45% compared to the previous Census. Nationally, 122,500 Australians were officially recorded as homeless, though we acknowledge more remain uncounted. Here in Tasmania, most of our homeless adults and children are "hidden" - sleeping in cars, tents, couch-surfing, or staying in cheap hotels, some still sleeping in our streets and in our parks.  

Every day, our members, volunteers and staff meet people whose lives have been turned upside down by unexpected misfortune, such as illness or injury, a relationship breakdown, or job loss. Homelessness can happen to anyone. That's why our services are so vital. As Australia’s cost-of-living and housing crises escalate, the demand on our services keeps growing. We urge governments for systemic solutions and a fairer tax and welfare system.  

In the last year, the Society’s 1,400 people in Tasmania provided emergency relief to 3,528 local households and food relief to 19,182 individuals.  

One of the most urgent challenges is the lack of social and community housing. Tasmania’s rental market is in crisis – zero affordable vacancies in some areas and ever-rising rents. Low-income families depending on government payments are hit hardest. Urgent increases to JobSeeker and Commonwealth Rent Assistance are desperately needed.   

In the Society’s submission to the federal Treasurer’s upcoming Economic Reform Roundtable, we propose four budget-neutral policy options that could lift up to one million people out of poverty, while strengthening superannuation accounts for around 90% of Australians. Only the wealthiest households would be asked to forgo some super tax concessions or welfare payments to provide a fairer safety net for the most vulnerable. More details are on our Vinnies website, and I urge you to contact your local MPs and senators to advocate for these much-needed reforms. Clearly, the current system is broken.  

Our belief is simple: access to safe, secure housing is a human right. In 2016, we called on all Australian governments to recognise this. Nine years later, we’re still waiting.  

The Society continues to provide specialist homelessness services, emergency and transitional accommodation, longer-term community housing, and accessible homes for people living with disability. But accommodation alone is not enough. Many people need wrap-around supports, such as mental health care, education and training, drug and alcohol services, to break the cycle. With the right support, the families and individuals we help can stay housed and rebuild their lives.  

Homelessness is particularly harsh for older Tasmanians – at risk for both health and financial reasons – and for young people. Mission Australia's most recent youth survey found that nearly one in ten Australians aged 15 to 19 had experienced homelessness in the past year. Young people should be planning their futures from the safety of a stable home, not worrying about where they’ll sleep tonight.  

For the first time, young people identified cost-of-living as their top concern, with the issue more than doubling in the last two years. Rising costs of essentials make it harder than ever for vulnerable people to get by, so we are urging the federal government to increase welfare payments for those most in need.  

On top of this, the National Housing and Affordability Council has confirmed that housing affordability continues to worsen across most cities and regions. Homes Tasmania is working to build more supply, yet years of backlogs mean the shortage cannot be quickly fixed. There are shortages in suitable land, council planning approvals, and the skilled workforce. Change will take years. Yet, numerous vacant houses could be used immediately to shelter those in need. This is why we call for tax reforms that would return long-empty homes to the market.  

Despite the challenges, we remain committed to increasing Tasmania’s affordable and social housing stock, and to supporting all those in need.  

I also want to thank everyone who participated in this year’s CEO Vinnies Sleepout events in Hobart and Launceston, raising nearly $95,000 for local services. Every dollar will be used to help Tasmanians experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Though we know one night cannot replicate the hardships of homelessness, the Sleepout inspires empathy, while raising awareness and much-needed funds.  

To close, thank you for your time. The St Vincent de Paul Society is committed to helping more Australians secure safe housing and rise out of poverty. Together, let’s build a fairer Australia.