Revelations that the Liberals are watering down their commitment to build 10,000 new social and affordable homes show that nothing is safe from the Liberal-Lambie budget cuts.

When the government first announced the ambitious policy it was clearly about building new housing stock.

As then Minister Guy Barnett told an Estimates Committee in 2022 – the Liberals plan was “to address the housing needs of Tasmanians, and to build the 10,000 homes by 2032 to support people in need.”

Now it looks like they are more interested in trying to save face as they retro-fit whatever they can into the number – including vacant lots and shared equity scheme houses – while clearly cutting their original promise back.

The watering-down of the commitment comes at the same time as another move set to further disincentivise the construction of desperately needed housing stock, with the government’s first home owner grant also dropping from $30,000 to $10,000 from last week.

This past month Tasmanians have learned that the health system is being sized up by the government as it attempts to repair the budgetary damage inflicted after 10 years of financial mismanagement.

Now it appears the government is cutting corners on housing too, Tasmanians will be wondering which essential service will be on the chopping block next.

Josh Willie MP
Shadow Treasurer