Independent Member for Clark, Andrew Wilkie, has slammed the Federal Government’s reluctance to unlock new solutions to the housing affordability crisis.
“Today in Question Time I urged the Prime Minister to pull out all stops to help ease the housing crisis, including changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax,” Mr Wilkie said. “But instead of accepting my invitation to seize the moment, he patted himself on the back for a job well done getting Australians into homes.
“This will infuriate a great many Tasmanians who now have no hope of buying or even renting a home as prices go through the roof. Earlier this week we heard Hobart rents have jumped almost 9% in the past 12 months to a median $499 per week, that is if you are lucky enough to find a house to live in.
“Moreover the median house price is a record $621,102, soaring $130,000 over the past 12 months. For those fortunate enough to even entertain the idea of buying a house, the market has become almost impenetrable. An entire generation is at real risk of missing the chance of home ownership. Something’s got to give because this is just not on.”