The Tasmanian Greens today urged the Premier to lobby Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to forgive the state’s housing debt, incurred under the Federal-State Housing Agreement in return for agreeing to extend the ‘rent holiday’ for pensioners in public housing as requested by the Federal government.

Greens Leader Nick McKim MP used Anti Poverty week to push the proposal, saying that that instead of mouthing empty rhetoric, the Bartlett government had the opportunity to do something meaningful and constructive to alleviate some of the stress incurred by many Tasmanians who were still unable to secure affordable housing.

“Prime Minister Rudd’s visit to Tasmania coincides with Anti Poverty week, we know that Mr Rudd has proclaimed that more needs to be done to provide affordable housing, so now is the perfect opportunity for David Bartlett to negotiate the Commonwealth wiping the housing debt in return for the State to provide an extended rent holiday for pensioners in public housing,” Mr McKim said.

“What can hurt by the Premier putting this request to the Prime Minister?”

“It would be a win for Tasmanian pensioners, and it would be a win for the state coffers by freeing up $17 million in annual debt repayments to the commonwealth which could be reinjected back into the provision of affordable housing.”

“And as Anti-Poverty week highlights, there are many Tasmanians who could do with a win at the moment, with approximately 28% on or below the poverty line despite the Labor government boasting about the state’s economy doing well.”

“Tasmanians are doing it tough with the ever-growing increase in the cost of living under this Labor government with new water and sewerage bills, increases in public transport fees, increases in MAIB premiums, an increase of over 25% in electricity bills in the last 18 months, and massive increases in land tax, all of which flow through into increased costs for basics like food.”

“By adopting the Greens’ proposal, David Bartlett has a real opportunity here to address the difficulty facing many Tasmanians who are struggling to survive financially under the spiralling cost of living increases,” Mr McKim said.
Nick McKim MP Greens Leader