Michael Ferguson,Leader of Government Business and Minister for Finance
The 50th Parliament of Tasmania will open this week with the re-elected majority Gutwein Liberal Government continuing to deliver our plan to secure Tasmania’s future, including introducing legislation to ease the cost of living for Tasmanians.
Since being re-elected, we’ve hit the ground running, focussed on delivering the first 30 days of commitments outlined in our first 100 Day Plan.
This includes important actions in a number of vital areas such as health, skills and training, job creation, tourism, and building the infrastructure our growing State needs for the future.
While Labor has been busy fighting amongst itself, we have been busy doing what we said we would.
This week, official proceedings will begin with Tasmania’s 29th Governor, Her Excellency Barbara Baker, opening Parliament with a formal address.
We will then be introducing legislation that will enact our election promises through the Treasury Miscellaneous (Cost of Living and Affordable Housing Support) Bill 2021.
This Bill will bring together the State of the State and election commitments including;
- increasing the First Home Owners Grant from $20,000 to $30,000, backdated to 1 April 2021 until 30 June 2022;
- increasing the threshold for the 50 per cent stamp duty concession to apply to purchases up to $500,000 for Tasmanians buying their first home and pensioners downsizing their family home, which will be backdated to 16 March 2021;
- reducing land tax costs by increasing thresholds, allowing payment by instalments on accounts over $500 and reducing interest applied to deferred payments;
- capping the Motor Accidents Insurance Board duty as part of our new quarterly vehicle registration payment option; and
- providing a two year waiver of stamp duty on the purchase of new and second hand electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
We will also be bringing back previous legislation that hadn’t yet passed Parliament before the election and there will be two Supply Bills to provide continued public funding through to the State Budget on 26 August.
While we get on with business and deliver for Tasmanians, the Labor Party is at ground zero, with a cobbled together Shadow Cabinet, which remains bitterly divided.
The Tasmanian Liberal Government is looking forward to getting back to Parliament to continue to deliver our Plan to secure Tasmania’s future.
