The latest ABS building approvals data shows that dwelling approvals have slumped, and it highlights the consequence of the Liberals’ failure to deliver on their promises.

Ten years ago, Jeremy Rockliff and the Liberals promised to deliver a single statewide planning scheme that would make approvals “fairer, faster, cheaper, simpler.”

Total dwelling units approved remained at 193 for the month of June - approvals have remained below 200 every month this year, they’ve been trending the wrong way for the last two years and are even below the levels that were being achieved in 2017.

This is more evidence of broken promises by a Liberal Government that is running Tasmania’s economy into the ground.

Speeding up planning approvals is essential for our future - we need to get more houses built sooner.

We need the Liberal-Lambie Coalition to get on with the job so that young people can access affordable rentals, get a foot in the door of home ownership, support the building industry, and help create safe, secure, well-paying jobs in construction.

A good place to start would be getting out of the way of UTAS’ plan to redevelop its vacant, unused land at Sandy Bay. If approved, that project would provide nearly 2,000 new dwelling approvals and help fund a $500 million STEM facility.

Josh Willie MP
Shadow Treasurer