The Government’s number one priority is jobs, that’s why we’re committed to extending the First Home Builders Boost.
Rather than scrapping the $30 000 First Home Builder Boost at the end of this year, as the previous Labor-Green government planned, the Liberal Government will extend the Boost for six months at the rate of $20 000 and then keeps it going at $10 000 per new home after that.
Tasmania’s building and construction sector is worth $2 billion a year and employs 17 500 Tasmanians and while we need to bear in mind the tough budget circumstances inherited from Labor and the Greens, this Government will do whatever we can to support the industry and support more Tasmanians building a new home.
Between 1 January 2013 and 31 October 2014, 860 grants have been approved Statewide, with a total value of grants at just over $20 million.
The Boost is helping lift building approvals. Compared with the seven months before the election, the seven months since the election have seen an increase in building approvals of 20 per cent.
Compared to the same time last year, approvals are up by over 30 per cent, by far the biggest increase of any state or territory.
Our long-term Plan also includes scrapping headworks charges on new buildings and fixing the planning system.
Peter Gutwein, Treasurer
