LAMBIE GENIE
Jacqui to force Feds to grant our wish on house debt
TASMANIA’S crippling historic public housing debt may soon be scrapped or renegotiated, with Senator Jacqui Lambie, right, making that a condition of the Government winning her vital vote. She said interest repayments should instead be spent building public housing.
TASMANIA’S crippling historic social housing debt may be scrapped or renegotiated under a deal to win Senator Jacqui Lambie’s vote for the Federal Government’s $158 billion tax cut plan.
The Senate is set to consider the policy today and Senator Lambie’s vote is needed to get it over the line.
Senator Lambie told the Mercury she had decided to support the tax cuts, but only on the condition the Government work with her to see Tasmania’s historic $157 million social housing debt waived — a debt she said was stopping the Tasmanian Government from building enough affordable homes to meet demand.
The historic housing debt racked up decades ago costs $15 million each year in repayments, half of what Tasmania receives each year in housing grants from Canberra.
The Mercury has campaigned long and hard for solutions to alleviate the state’s housing crisis, including a front page last month that urged Federal Housing Minister Michael Sukkar to help.
Senator Lambie said in an exclusive interview: “I have basically said if the Government wants to help higher income earners they need to help us. This is what I want done and I expect it to be ironed out within the next six to eight weeks. I expect that out of good will they will come through.
“I also expect the Tasmanian Government to continue to meet, or increase its current funding for homeless crisis services and public housing.”
Federal Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said: “We are always happy to engage with Senators in relation to issues of concern to them, and their consitutents.”
He called on Labor to support the tax cuts, a move that would mean the Government would not require Senator Lambie’s vote.
But Senator Lambie said it was only by having the balance of power for Tasmania in the Senate that real debt relief was going to happen.
“There is no way in good conscience I can vote for substantial tax cuts without making sure that the people who so desperately need a roof over their heads aren’t left to go without,” she said.”
Senator Lambie said people in her home state were doing it tough.
“For them, $1k in their back pocket now will give them some immediate relief,” she said. “But there are also thousands of Tasmanians who are on the pension, Newstart or who don’t earn enough money to pay tax. So they won’t see any benefit from a tax cut,” Senator Lambie said.
“Tasmanian families are sleeping in cars, parks and tents — all in the dead of winter — and there are 3000 Tasmanians are on the housing waiting list. The State of Tasmania owes the Federal Government $157 million in social housing debt.
“Tasmania is paying 50 cents in every dollar of our state housing budget back to the Federal Government in interest and debt repayments
“That means we are building half as many homes, helping half as many people. This at a time when the Tasmanian Treasurer is spruiking Tasmania’s ‘golden age’.
“This debt is holding Tasmania back and denying shelter to thousands.
“The State Liberal Government keeps talking a big game but they haven’t achieved anything in debt relief. At this rate we’ll be paying this debt for another 23 years.
“This time last year Tasmanian families were living in tents in the showground. It is a year later and the situation has only got worse.
“This isn’t going to fix every problem in Tasmania, but it’s a start. It would free up enough money to find a home for 3000 people on the critical list through accommodation and casework.”
The package — under which millions of Australian workers will receive an extra $1080 in tax relief when they lodge their returns — passed the Lower House on Monday night.