In Tasmania, social housing is in short supply and efforts are being made to build new homes as quickly as possible. But as soon as construction starts, it is targeted by teenage vandals.
"We've seen smashed windows through to attempted arson attacks and damage beyond that," Mr Wilson said.
Every bit of damage delays the project's completion — and it's not the only site that has been repeatedly hit by vandals in recent months. "The last six months we've just noticed young teenagers, with hoods especially, they just come in here, they scope out the place and then the next day they steal stuff.""We're here to fill scripts and help people and I feel like they shouldn't have to feel like that coming to work."Statistics show slight increase
The statistics only take into account recorded offences, do not include this financial year, and over the longer term, show a marked decline — 13 years ago youth offending was three times higher.