State Nationals MP for Clarence Richie Williamson has questioned the accuracy of the NSW Government’s 2026 Statewide Street Count, saying the figures released for the Northern Rivers do not reflect conditions being experienced across local communities.
Williamson said he was concerned by figures in the report claiming rough sleeping numbers had fallen significantly across his electorate and the wider Northern Rivers region, despite frontline services, local organisations and residents reporting otherwise.
“The figures contained in this report are frankly very difficult to believe and do not align with what people on the ground are seeing every single day across the Northern Rivers,” Williamson said.
“The report claims rough sleeping numbers have dropped in the Clarence Valley, Richmond Valley, Ballina, Lismore, Byron and the Tweed, but anyone working closely with vulnerable people in our region knows homelessness and housing stress have continued to worsen.”
Williamson questioned the extent of the consultation and counting process undertaken locally and whether the locations surveyed accurately reflected where people were sleeping rough.
“I seriously question how comprehensive the consultation and assessment process was in our region, what locations were actually visited, and whether the methodology is truly capturing the extent of rough sleeping in regional communities,” he said.
“I regularly speak with community organisations, support providers, councils and local residents who are all telling me the same thing — rough sleeping has increased, not decreased.”
Williamson said the Northern Rivers continued to face significant housing pressures following natural disasters, rising rents, a lack of affordable housing and ongoing cost-of-living pressures.
“Many people are couch surfing, living in vehicles, staying in makeshift camps or moving between temporary arrangements that are often hidden from formal counts,” he said.
“The danger with figures like these is that governments start believing the problem is improving when communities on the ground know the crisis is getting worse.”
Williamson said he had formally raised his concerns with NSW Housing and Homelessness Minister Rose Jackson and sought clarification on the methodology, consultation process and locations assessed across the Northern Rivers.
“I have written to the Minister outlining my serious concerns regarding these figures and seeking further information about how the count was conducted locally,” he said.
“Accurate data is absolutely critical to ensuring communities receive the housing support, homelessness services and investment they desperately need.”
“If the data being relied upon does not properly reflect reality, then there is a real risk communities like ours will miss out on critical support and resources.”
The 2026 NSW Statewide Street Count Technical Paper is available online.
Advertising with North Coast Times is a cost effective and reliable way to reach locals who are interested and engaged. Find out more here.