Building approvals data highlights importance of construction blitz

Elise Archer,Minister for Building and Construction

The latest building approvals data from the ABS has reaffirmed the importance of and why we are delivering the Tasmanian Government’s $3.1 billion construction blitz that will help our building and construction sector bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic.

It says it all that on one hand Jen Butler is calling for more investment in building and construction, and on the other is telling us to focus on other areas.

The ABS figures confirm 3143 new dwellings were approved in the year to May 2020, highlighting the sector’s role in building our economy into one of the strongest in the nation.

However, as seen throughout Australia, Tasmania’s building and construction sector has not been immune from the impacts of COVID-19, which is why we will reboot the economy with a record construction blitz over two years that will fuel our building construction sector and underpin around 15,000 jobs.

At a time when Tasmanians need jobs more than ever, Ms Butler should stop her relentless and naive negativity and support our plan to rebuild a stronger Tasmania.

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