Backhander

Some worrying stats regarding family violence were released this week, these could be linked to any cause - if you were so inclined to draw long bows. So like any blogger worth his salt, I'll interpret them on behalf of the barrow I'm pushing.

Overpriced housing.

Reports of family violence in Tasmania are up 500% in the past decade. Scary statistics, but thankfully Ruth Forrest MLC was on hand to interpret the reasons for the rise. Predictably, unemployment and drug use got a run, along with the vague and redundant term 'life pressures'.

If you can't be more specific, why bother giving throw away quotes to the media? Considering Forrest sat on the Housing Affordability Select Committee, you'd expect she may be able to offer a little more insight as to what 'life pressures' consist of.

During those hearings, in 2007, the HIA acknowledged that:

...Tasmania is now sitting around seven times the household income so we are actually rated as one of the least affordable  places to live in the world.

Now all credit to the HIA copping to that one, I suspect they never expected anyone to read the transcripts, but they then went on to talk shortages being the problem, like any good building association.Something already refuted.

Since 2007, when Forrest sat through eight days of hearings, listening while witness after witness spoke of costs out of control and the associated strains put on people, Tasmanian house prices have continued to outpace any wage growth. So much so, that Tasmania is now sitting at eight times income - Vancouver's title is clearly in our sights.

So what happens when housing grows nearly 350% in the space of a decade, when your income doesn't increase even 30% in the same space of time?

I guess amongst trying to provide shelter, those life pressures happen and family violence reports sky-rocket 500%.

Am I really drawing such a long bow?