Helping more Tasmanian families into safe and secure housing

Guy Barnett,Minister for State Development, Construction and Housing

The Tasmanian Liberal Government is committed to providing a comprehensive range of housing and support services to help Tasmanians and Tasmanian families into safe and secure housing.

Tasmanians deserve this, which is why we are implementing the biggest social housing building program in the State’s history – 10,000 new social and affordable homes by 2032 to help Tasmanians in need.

While our economy and housing markets are strong, we also acknowledge that many Tasmanians are still doing it very tough and there is more work to do.

As the new Minister for Housing, I want to listen and understand the problems many vulnerable Tasmanians face and I have begun these conversations.

To foster this collaborative approach, I will soon be convening a Ministerial Reference Group, which will meet regularly to advise me of any gaps or challenges that exist and to work on collaborative solutions.

This collaboration will be vital as we move through establishing our new Housing Authority which is due to commence in October 2022. Wemust do this in partnership with the housing and not-for-profit sectors who know this space intimately.

While this is happening, we are getting on with our record investment in social and affordable housing. We have already built 337 homes in the past year, adding 28 social dwellings and supported accommodation on average every month.

There are 1169 long term homes under construction, with 110 spaces for homeless accommodation and our target of 1500 homes to be completed by June 2023.

But to build on this momentum we need more land. Today, a new Housing Supply Order tabled in Parliament will open up significant parcels of land in Warrane and Burnie for residential development, paving the way for up to 100 new homes.

These lots are in addition to new land unlocked through our ‘Headworks Holiday’, which has already created over 1038 new residential lots across the State. We have committed an additional $15 million to the Headworks Holiday to unlock even more land for Tasmanian homes.

At the same time, we’re actively identifying opportunities for infill development and urban renewal through the Hobart City Deal together with our City Deal partners, and we have also approved 183 ‘granny flats’ for long term rentals, under our Ancillary Dwellings Program.

For Tasmanians in immediate need, our three Safe Space services and outreach support are critical in providing this and we provide $30 million in annual funding to 17 Specialist Homelessness Services, including Housing Connect Front Door and Support as well as crisis shelters and supported accommodation.

The Tasmanians Liberal Government is delivering for all Tasmanians. We are spending over 300 per cent more on new housing than the previous Labor Government, our commitments are already resulting in real world delivery of housing to those in need, and support and accommodation for our most vulnerable Tasmanians.

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