Federal Labor is pressuring Tasmania’s Liberal government to offer the Help to Buy scheme after data showed strong national uptake in its first two months.
The scheme has seen 2,356 applications conditionally or fully approved across participating states, with 278 Australian households already purchasing homes.
However, no Tasmanian families have accessed the program because the state government hasn’t implemented it locally.
Federal Member for Franklin Julie Collins said Tasmania was being left behind despite all states and territories agreeing to the scheme at National Cabinet in August 2023.
“Help to Buy is being embraced across the country but Tasmanians are locked out of this scheme due to deliberate lack of action by the Tasmanian Liberal Government,” she said.
“The Tasmanian Liberal Government’s stubborn refusal to let Help to Buy run in Tasmania is shameful.”
The federal scheme helps eligible buyers purchase homes with deposits as low as two per cent.
The government contributes up to 40 per cent for new homes or 30 per cent for existing properties.
Buyers still need to meet eligibility criteria and repay the government’s share when they sell or if they choose to buy it out.
Collins warned that Tasmania’s allocated places would be lost if the state doesn’t pass enabling legislation by March 1.
Housing Minister Kerry Vincent defended the government’s approach, pointing to Tasmania’s existing MyHome Shared Equity Scheme which has helped over 1,000 households.
“We asked for more detail well before the Federal Labor Government’s launch. This detail was never provided,” Vincent said.
He said the government was monitoring the scheme’s success in other states to ensure it complemented existing programs.
“We have never argued the merit of the federal scheme, but the lack of detail made it difficult for us to commit to when Tasmania’s MyHome Shared Equity Scheme is so successful,” he said.
Collins said Tasmanians deserved more housing options, not fewer, and urged the state government to reconsider its position.
The Housing Industry Association has also called on the state government to adopt the Help to Buy scheme.
“The Tasmanian Government’s MyHome scheme is helping some buyers, but settlement delays and vendor reluctance mean too many Tasmanians are missing out,” HIA Executive Director Tasmania Benjamin Price said.
“Meanwhile, the Commonwealth’s Help to Buy program is now live across the country, except in Tasmania.”
“Tasmanians deserve the same support provided in all other areas of the country.”
