State Government needs to step up on Tassie Housing debt

The Prime Minister’s refusal to axe Tasmania’s Commonwealth public housing debt, in response to my question in Parliament today, is disappointing.

The housing debt is the biggest impediment to the Tasmanian Government being able to significantly increase investment in public housing and give thousands of people a home. It’s costing Tasmania over $15 million a year in interest payments and the Federal Government has it within their power to write off the debt, like they did for South Australia in 2013.

The State Government, and especially Premier Will Hodgman, should step up and lobby their federal counterparts to axe the housing debt. The housing crisis in southern Tasmania will only be solved when the State and Federal Governments work together.

Authorised by Andrew Wilkie MP 188 Collins St Hobart

Andrew Wilkie, Independent Member for Denison