Labor are trying themselves in knots over their ideological opposition to more houses for those most in need.
Labor have been trying for months to demonise community housing providers participating in our Community Housing Stock Leverage Program, now they are suddenly concerned about their welfare!
The facts are, community housing providers were made fully aware of their responsibilities relating to asbestos removal when they tendered for and took over management of the properties - which occurred under the previous government. Perhaps Mr Willie should check the facts with his Shadow Cabinet colleagues before attempting to invent conspiracy theories around this.
Additionally, Mr Willie’s claims about the supposed lack of an “update” from me are wrong.
As I announced last week and told the Parliament, the Community Housing Stock Leverage Program’s second stage evaluation panel has considered submissions from four organisations in July.
This panel has now made recommendations to the government on four projects.
I have endorsed these recommendations and Housing Tasmania is now developing the final legal agreements with each of the four organisations.
I am happy to say that as a result of the second stage process, the four projects will now exceed the government’s target of up to 150 homes for 30 years for priority housing applicants on the Housing Tasmania wait list, with over 150 social housing properties to be delivered on top of around 30 housing refurbishments.
Labor’s ideological and political opposition to this Plan would see 150 less affordable homes for those vulnerable Tasmanians most in need.