A furious NSW Prime Minister Chris Minns said that he had 'enough' from squatters in flood-bleached Lismore houses that have been closed as 'from Towners and Backpackers'.
Up to 50 squatters live in previously empty, water -damaged houses, which bought the state in a return schedule after the devastating 2022 floods that have displaced five people and more than 30,000.
“We bought those houses so that we could keep communities safe and to make squatters move there, is completely unacceptable,” Mr Minns told reporters on Tuesday.
The squatters have drawn up a list of requirements with one of the requests that must be placed in government housing in areas such as Byron Bay – where the median price for a house is $ 3,050,000.
Local Nationals MP Kevin Hogan said that the Minns and Albanian governments are to blame for what is happening in Lismore.
“Working governments create a ghetto in our community,” he said. 'They are usually from Townners and backpackers and are illegally withdrawn.
'The Labor government must deal with this. And should have already done it. This is not fair for our locals. '
Mr Minns admitted on Tuesday morning at RadioStation 2 GB that he did not encounter the issue until it blew up when Lismore was flooded again last week.
Krakers Tyson and his mother Tina are depicted in a house owned by the NSW government is destroyed Lismore due to the flooded Lismore
Local Nationals MP Kevin Hogan said that the Minns and Albanian labor government are to blame for what is happening in Lismore
“I was never aware of it before, but we tried in court to expel them from the government's property,” he said.
The Prime Minister promised to turn off 'Overseas visitors, tourists, backpackers' who benefit from convicted property were left empty after they have been included in the return schedule for Lismore houses after the previous floods three years ago.
“The housing problems will not be resolved by moving people to flood -sensitive land,” he said.
“We have to draw a line in the sand here and that means demolishing those houses and ensuring that we can continue with life in the northern rivers.”
The squatters lived in eight houses near the city center of Lismore and the prime minister said that earlier evacuation reports were no help.
The houses must be replaced by green space after the demolition.
Tina and her son Tyson said earlier that they had squatted in one of the property after escaping a situation of domestic violence.
Tina said that the houses were occupied by people at the forefront of the local home crisis, who had forced many residents to live in their car.
NSW prime minister Chris Minns (photo) admitted on 2 GB that he did not encounter the issue until it blew up when Lismore was flooded again last week
The squatters lived in eight houses near the center of Lismore and the prime minister said that earlier evacuation reports were no help.
However, Hogan said: 'Many residents of North and South Lismore have told me that this is a health and safety problem for our community.
'We will become a socio -economic' ghetto 'if the Labor government remains in control.'
Mr Minns said that the state government will deal with the issue.
“We had had enough of this. This is incredibly dangerous, and I'm going to say today to the reconstruction authority, we have to demolish those houses, those squatters from Lismore.
'It is not suitable under any circumstances. It is a risk for SES staff and those who live in those houses and it is illegal, “he said.
He added that NSW taxpayers spent $ 980 million to buy back houses for people who live in low -lying areas because it is dangerous.
“What is the point of buying back all those characteristics if squatters will just jump in and say:” Well, we are going to live here now “. “
“These are houses that are owned by the government that are unsuitable to live in, because if people live there, it is dangerous for the community.”
The electricity and water supply on the houses was previously eliminated in an attempt to get the squatters out, but they just turned on them again and did not pay them, Mr Minns said.
He said that the squatters operate as a 'collective' and have received a representative, a leadership, and they demanded a whole series of conditions of the NSW government as if they are jumping in line when it comes to social housing.
“They first want to be out of the ranks. We didn't allow that. We can't allow that. '
Tina and her son Tyson (photo) said they had squatted in one of the property after escaping a situation of domestic violence
Male local residents said that it is a squatting a health and safety problem for their community
The squatters work like a 'collective' and have a representative to talk to the NSW government
Evacuation centers must be concluded because the latest emergency threat for the region ends with flood water from ex-tropical cyclone Alfred that is back.
Mr Minns said earlier that they could not serve as a long-term solution for deep-rooted housing problems in the region, which has the highest number of rough sleep in the state.
More than 50 emergency crews were in the region to do damage -reviews, with four properties that were already considered uninhabitable due to water damage.
About 7,500 houses and companies were still not connected to electricity, because heavy rain continued to fall in many areas.
Large flood warnings were lifted for most areas, except parts of the Richmond River.
