Bec’s housing pledge

LABOR says it wants to introduce special zoning and government incentives to create more low-cost housing.

Opposition Leader Rebecca White will today use her Budget-in-reply speech to outline her party’s plans to tackle Hobart’s housing crisis.

She will tell Parliament that “inclusionary zoning” — where a share of any new construction would have to be made available as affordable housing — had worked in other states and should be introduced here.

“For a growing housing market like Tasmania it makes sense,” Ms White said.

LABOR says it wants to introduce special zoning and government incentives to create more low-cost housing and would act to secure accommodation for homeless people, particularly during winter.

Opposition Leader Rebecca White will draw inspiration from New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern and use her budget-in-reply speech today to outline her party’s plans to tackle Hobart’s housing crisis.

She will tell parliament the introduction of “inclusionary zoning” in Tasmania would help increase the availability of affordable housing. Inclusionary zoning requires a share of new construction to include affordable housing.

Ms White says, given the growing number of people who are homeless, it is time to investigate ways of housing more Tasmanians.

“Every Tasmanian should have safe and secure housing, but right now families are living in tents, young Tasmanians are giving up on the dream of owning their own home, families are living in tenuous housing arrangements and struggling to pay rent they cannot afford.

“Inclusionary zoning has been adopted in other states including South Australia, NSW and the ACT and for a growing housing market like Tasmania it makes sense.”

Ms White committed her party to consulting with the housing and property sectors to develop an inclusionary zoning scheme ready for implementation in government.

“The number of potential affordable homes developers are obliged to build is determined by negotiation through the planning assessment process as a proportion of the overall value of the development.”

Ms White said 430 new social houses were promised between 2015 and 2019 but to date, only 37 have been built.

She also said Labor would seek expressions of interest from councils and private property owners to urgently secure winter accommodation for the homeless. “There is a critical shortage of emergency accommodation options right across the state,” she said.

Ms Ardern came to power on the promise of improving conditions for people on low incomes, including affordable housing.