Labor’s plan to build homes

Labor leader Rebecca White says the opposition government will stick to its plan of delivering 1000 extra homes over five years to ease the state’s rental crisis.

An example of what Labor would deliver is the 51-unit subdivision in Kingston, where construction is well under way.

The Build-to-Rent project – which Labor says is the first of its kind in Tasmania – is being developed by SJM Property Developments off the Channel Highway.

Build-to-Rent initiatives have been rolled out in the past across mainland states to ramp up housing supply and improve affordability and long-term tenant security.

Liberal’s Housing Minister Guy Barnett says Labor’s plan to deliver more homes through its Build-to-Rent program “falls woefully short of the Liberal Government’s commitment of 5000 over the same period”.

But Labor has clarified their plan would deliver an extra 1000 homes on top of commitments already made by the Liberal government.

Ms White said on Monday housing accessibility and affordability was one of the “biggest challenges” facing Tasmanians.

“We need to be building more houses, increasing supply and providing more jobs for people so people have the opportunity to get into the rental market,” she said.

“The aim is to put a roof over people’s heads who are going without or struggling to find rental accommodation or a place to call home.”

Calling housing one of Labor’s “top priorities”, along with health and jobs, Ms White said the Rockliff government’s priorities were “all wrong”.

“The Premier is more concerned with putting a roof over the stadium than over the heads of Tasmanians,” Ms White said.

Ms White said the Kingston project alone had upwards of 100 workers on the job site, providing a shot in the arm for construction workers across the state.

Labor housing spokesperson Ella Haddad said private rentals had risen by 50 per cent.