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Ferguson Denies the Facts


Cassy O'Connor MP  -  Tuesday, 31 May 2022

Tags: Housing, State Budget

Today in Parliament, trainee Treasurer Michael Ferguson denied figures in his own budget and dismissed the analysis of the Productivity Commission.

Tasmanians are in trouble when the man in control of the books refutes the facts for some sort of financial fantasy.

Worse still, are the facts.

In the past eight years, according to the Productivity Commission, only 578 additional properties have been delivered.

In 2016-17, Mr Ferguson’s predecessor promised 941 new homes, but delivered just 186.

In 2017-18, the data shows a net loss of 212 public and community homes.

In 2018-19, Tasmanians were promised 1500 new homes, so far only 697 have been reported as finished.

We’ve since been promised 10,000 new homes within a decade, but the only new money for housing starts the year after next, and a total of $35 million out of $1.1billion – just 3% - is allocated. 

It’s not a ‘comprehensive and ambitious’ housing strategy, it’s a con. It will only serve to give false hope to the community. A community desperate for real and urgent investment to alleviate the housing and rent affordability crisis.