In a historic day, the Homes Tasmania Bill 2022 and Homes Tasmania (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2022, have passed the Tasmanian Parliament heralding a new approach to assisting Tasmanians in need and taking a more coordinated approach to building more homes faster.
The Bill, which replaces the Homes Act 1935, has been shaped by feedback from the housing, homelessness and building and construction sectors. I would like to thank these stakeholders for their strong support for change.
Homes Tasmania is a critical step in delivering our Government's 10-year, $1.5 billion plan to deliver 10,000 new homes for Tasmanians by 2032, and we are currently on track to deliver 1,500 homes and units by June 30, 2023.
Homes Tasmania will have an asset base of $3.5 billion with significant powers to leverage these assets to increase the supply of housing for Tasmanians in need.
Homes Tasmania will provide a dedicated focus on housing and homelessness, with strong, experienced leadership and the ability to draw on representative, diverse and specialist views in guiding its decision-making and addressing our housing challenges.
I want to thank all the hard-working staff who will be transitioning to the new Homes Tasmania for their incredible work to help Tasmanians in need. They do a wonderful job each and every day and I look forward to them continuing to make a contribution under the new Homes Tasmania.
This is the biggest investment in housing in Tasmania’s history and provides $538 million in capital funding for social and affordable housing over the next four years, including $204 million in this year alone.
It is extremely disappointing that Labor continued to oppose this Bill and play politics right to the end rather than support vulnerable Tasmanians looking for a roof over their heads and a place to call home.
Due to the suspension of Parliament sitting as a result of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the official 1 October commencement of Homes Tasmania has been impacted, however subject to all legal requirements being met including Royal Assent, we expect the Authority to be up and running as soon as possible. In the interim period, administrative orders have been put in place to allow for housing staff and services to continue as usual.
Homes Tasmania will provide Tasmanians with the most integrated and cohesive housing and homelessness services in the country, and we thank those members in the Legislative Council who supported it.