The doubling of the first home builders grant will assist to create essential jobs in Northern Tasmania
- Brian Wightman
The Property Council has welcomed a state government decision to double the first home builders grant, saying it will create much needed jobs in the North and North West.
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Treasurer Peter Gutwein announced on Wednesday the state budget will include funds to boost the grant to $20,000 until June next year.
Mr Gutwien said the grant was expected to stimulate $175 million worth of building activity across the state.
He said the extra grant money would be backdated to January 2016 so that Tasmanians who had already applied and qualified for the $10,000 grant can qualify for the boosted grant.
“We want the confidence we are seeing in the construction sector continue, and that’s why we are supporting the sector through the support for first home builders, fixing the planning system and the headworks holiday that has slashed the cost of investing,” Mr Gutwein said.
Property Council Tasmania director Brian Wightman said while Hobart was experiencing strong growth, it was not consistent state-wide.
“The doubling of the first home builders grant will assist to create essential jobs in Northern Tasmania and this remains critically important," he said.
Mr Wightman said the grant would also provide young Tasmanians with an opportunity to build their first home and encourage interstate residents to consider Tasmania as a destination to live.
"Population growth remains a challenge for Tasmania,” he said.
“With the implementation of the grant, the Property Council remains optimistic that it will encourage mainlanders to consider our state as more than a holiday destination, rather a place to call home.”
Opposition Leader Bryan Green said it was good to see a Labor policy adopted by the government.
“The government has obviously realised it has to do something to stimulate employment in Tasmania with 3900 jobs lost since September last year,” he said.