After 10 years of the Liberals, Tasmania’s housing crisis is not just an issue affecting our major cities.
Rental vacancy rates in regional Tasmania are below one per cent, and are among the lowest in the entire country. Tasmania’s regional communities are finding it nearly impossible to attract the nurses, teachers, builders, childcare workers and other essential workers they need – with dire effects for key services and local economies.
And if the Liberals haven’t done anything by now, they never will.
A Rebecca White Labor Government will build 500 rental homes for key workers over the next five years.
Homes Tasmania will get started immediately, with $35 million to build the first 100 homes.
We will work with local government and key regional industries to identify priority areas and suitable land.
And drawing on the Defence Housing Australia model, we’ll ensure all returns are reinvested into building even more key worker housing.
By building more housing, Labor will ensure our regions can attract and retain the key workers they need for a better future.
Labor’s other commitments to attract and retain key workers in our regions include:
- Pay the HECS-HELP debt of 150 new health workers, or provide up to $20,000 superannuation boost, for healthcare workers who commit to three years or more working in one of Tasmania’s 18 regional hospitals
- Provide teachers working at one of our 32 regional and remote schools with additional salary incentives
- Provide stamp duty exemptions for teachers who buy a home and commit to working in a regional school area
Rebecca White MP
Tasmanian Labor Leader