Only eight Tasmanians have been paid the $25,000 HomeBuilder grant raising concerns it is too small and restrictive.
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As at October 2, only 355 Tasmanian applications for new home builds had been received for the federal grant, 50 applications had been made for substantial renovations with 124 applications conditionally approved.
Labor's federal housing spokesman Jason Clare says the figures show the federal scheme is too small and rolling out too slowly.
"The government has talked a big game about the HomeBuilder Scheme and is great at slogans, great at spin but hopeless at delivery," Mr Clare said.
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Tasmanian Labor's building and construction spokeswoman Jen Butler described the figures as "extremely disappointing".
She said Labor had warned that the way the scheme was designed would be too restrictive.
"HomeBuilder was mired in shortcomings and mixed messages from the very beginning and this is evidence that it was destined to fail," Ms Butler said.
"The scheme was never set up to help battlers, those who most needed assistance to save a deposit and build or upgrade their first home."
However, Master Builders Tasmania chief executive Matthew Pollock said it was early days for the figures and said the grant should be available for people within six months of work commencing, not three months.
"We are talking to the government about extending it so six months but the number of contracts signed because of the grant has been huge, it's extraordinary," Mr Pollock said.
"When COVID-19 first hit we had 700 or 800 display home starts fall by 90 per cent and now demand is coming back.
"These grants will save thousands of construction jobs, not just the 1200 the modelling showed."
Finance and Infrastructure Minister Michael Ferguson said Tasmania was the first state to sign onto HomeBuilder.
"We were the first state to pass associated legislation, and we were the first state to improve our approval and payment processes making it easier to gain finance," Mr Ferguson said.
"The government's quick actions are driving strong results."
The Tasmanian HomeBuilder grant has attracted 270 applications with 90 conditionally approved and six paid.
Sue Bailey
Sue works two days a week for The Examiner and The Advocate newspapers and and is based in Hobart. Loves any human interest stories!
Sue works two days a week for The Examiner and The Advocate newspapers and and is based in Hobart. Loves any human interest stories!
