Interest in the HomeBuilder Program has clearly exceeded expectations with more than 2,600 applications for new home builds and substantial renovations in Tasmania.

A significant proportion of those applications were received since late December 2020, demonstrating the enormous interest in the scheme.

However, with such an overwhelming response, builders are struggling to meet demand, with industry supply chains under immense strain, and that is why I wrote to the Australian Government urging them to consider extending the time frames for compliance.

We welcome today’s announcement by the Morrison Government to extend the 6 month commencement timeframe to 18 months, following the closure of applications to the scheme.

It is my intention to match the extension of the scheme, and we will take immediate action to match the time frames and conditions for the Tasmanian grant contribution.

Now that the scheme has had its intended effect of stimulating demand for housing, this extension will be a massive relief to builders and grant applicants, whilst ensuring a strong pipeline of work for the industry, and providing jobs and economic growth for Tasmania.

This is great news for Tasmania’s building and construction sector, for jobs and the Tasmanian economy along with today’s announcement to boost the First Home Owners Grant from $20,000 to $30,000 backdated to 31 March 2021 should a majority Gutwein Liberal Government be re-elected.

The Tasmanian Liberal Government has been focused on growing our economy, getting more Tasmanians back into work, bringing our unemployment rate down and rebuilding a stronger Tasmania.

This is why we provided a landmark $5 billion infrastructure program across the next four years to support 25,000 jobs and lift incomes state-wide. We’ve also backed Tasmanians businesses by making it easier for them to employ with a $22 million investment to significantly boost jobs for apprentices, trainees and youth employees.