OUR PLAN TO REBUILD A STRONGER TASMANIA Construction blitz 15,000 jobs $3.1 billion in construction value Rec ver. Re build. A MESSAGE FROM Peter Gutwein Premier of Tasmania COVID-19 has been the biggest health, economic and societal shock to hit our state in a century. It has challenged all of us in in ways previously unimagined, and forced action, which has curbed our freedoms and driven thousands of Tasmanians into unemployment. Tragically, it also cost Tasmanian lives. The good news is, thanks to the hard work and It brings forward government expenditure, it will stimulate sacrifices made by Tasmanians, we now have the virus investment in the private sector, it will strengthen and under a measure of control, making our Island state underpin the economy and it will create thousands of jobs. the envy of the world. I have said that the hallmarks of this Government will be one Now, we face the second and arguably tougher phase of compassion, conviction and opportunity, and never before of this fight – to reboot our economy, while avoiding a has that been more important as we rally together to build deadly second wave of the virus. our way out of coronavirus. This will not be easy. Measures to manage the virus The centrepiece of the package delivers 2300 new dwellings, will mean business will need to find new ways to do including social and affordable houses across the state. old things, to stay profitable and employ their fellow Tasmanians in a COVID-Safe environment, and we will It also secures and fast-tracks projects across community work closely with them to achieve that. infrastructure, roads, irrigation and other essential infrastructure. It’s no longer about shutting down and saving lives it’s about opening up our economy and These are challenging times, but now is not the time to rebuilding lives. sit idle, now is the time to unleash the greatest stimulus program we can, to kick-start the recovery process and We will super-charge the economy with a record help get Tasmania back on track and back in business. construction blitz over two years, supporting around 15,000 jobs. The package will build on the Government’s current infrastructure package of $1.8 billion over the next two years, and in total will underpin and support an estimated construction value of $3.1 billion across the Peter Gutwein next two years. Premier of Tasmania 2 Our Plan to Rebuild a Stronger Tasmania TASMANIA’S SUCCESS IN Fighting COVID-19 As soon as information about the virulence and potential global spread of COVID-19 became available, we immediately stood up a whole-of-government approach to prepare for the emergence of the virus in Tasmania. On Monday 2 March, Tasmania’s first case of COVID-19 was confirmed, leading to a rapid and comprehensive Government response, led by our Department of Health. Sarah Courtney At the same time, the Government’s State Emergency Minister for Health Management Committee, with Health as the lead agency, assumed responsibility for overseeing our emergency response activities. We know that rebooting our economy As with any emergency incident, these activities are conducted in accordance with our long-standing and is essential for jobs across Tasmania. well-tested emergency management plans, guidelines and We will continue to take a responsible operational protocols. approach to easing restrictions, We used our Island state as our best defence mechanism informed by Public Health advice, to do and we went hard and early with our response to this safely and minimise the potential of coronavirus, leading the nation on cruise ship bans, border a devastating second wave controls and other measures to limit physical distancing to protect Tasmanians. Timeline of COVID-19 in Tasmania Modelling shows, had we not taken early and fast action in Australia, the 20 March 2 April Border restrictions Further restrictions to racing, COVID-19 pandemic would have effective in Tasmania sex workers, garage sales, markets and scalloping dramatically exceeded the capacity of the 19 March 12 April health system, with more than 89% of State of Emergency Further North West declared for Tasmania Restrictions effective the population potentially infected. 15 16 March Cruise ships suspended from Tasmania 12 20 April 200 confirmed cases of 15 May 9 COVID-19 in Tasmania Seven consecutive days with no new cases 26 April 6 COVIDSafe App Launched 18 May 5 June Stage One Stage Two Restrictions lifted Restrictions 3 New COVID-19 cases per day New COVID-19 0 3 Mar. 10 Mar. 17 Mar. 24 Mar. 31 Mar. 7 Apr. 14 Apr. 21 Apr. 28 Apr. 5 May 12 May 19 May 25 May 1 June 8 June 11 June Our Plan to Rebuild a Stronger Tasmania 3 Our Housing Investment Delivering a construction value of (est) $792 million 1,000 Social Housing Dwellings Construction Value (est) $300 million The Government will invest an additional $100 million in partnership with Community Housing Providers to deliver up to an additional 1,000 new social houses. This investment complements, but is additional to, targets and actions in the Affordable Housing Action Plan 2019 – 2023. Fast-tracking 220 Social Houses Construction Value (est) $24 million The Government will bring forward funding of $14 million and provide new funding of $10 million to deliver 220 new social Roger Jaensch housing dwellings by 2022, 18 months earlier than planned. Minister for Housing These homes are part of a 300 home Community Housing Grants program funded by savings from the Commonwealth Housing Debt Waiver Agreement, with additional funds to enable early delivery. This investment complements, but is additional to, targets and actions in the Affordable Housing Action Plan 2019 – 23 There is no doubt that housing will play a key role in our economic and social Home Builder Grant of $20,000 recovery from COVID-19. Construction Value (est) $400 million Not only will this investment The Government currently offers $20,000 to first home owners who build their own home or buy a house and land package. To create jobs and stimulate support the building and construction sector, the Government will our economy, but it will also make a $20,000 grant available to all owner occupier new home provide more affordable builds for contracts entered into until the end of 2020 and the and social housing for build completed within eighteen months. Tasmanians in need. This will provide new owner-occupier home builders with $20,000 towards the cost of a new build or the purchase of new house and land package. For more information, visit www.sro.tas.gov.au/ about-us/covid-19. 4 Our Plan to Rebuild a Stronger Tasmania Expanded HomeShare Program Construction Value (est) $9.3 million HomeShare reduces the initial cost of buying a house and the monthly cost of owning it. The Scheme opens the door to home ownership for those who have enough income to make the step but need a helping hand. Eligibility for HomeShare is based on income and asset limits and includes all existing Housing Tasmanian tenants. To stimulate a greater take- up of HomeShare, the Government will revise the eligibility thresholds for HomeShare. Income eligibility limits will be increased by up to 15 per cent and the maximum financial asset limit will also be increased to $100,000 to increase the number of households who can use HomeShare. The Government equity contribution has been increased to a maximum of $100,000 per house. It is estimated uptake would result in 150 home purchases including 75 new builds over two years. The estimated cost of this initiative is $9.3 million over two years. There is no stronger supporter of Tasmania’s building and construction sector than the Tasmanian Liberal Government. This package is a game-changer for the sector and will create jobs when they are needed the most, with far-reaching benefits across the entire supply chain, Elise Archer supporting businesses and households. Minister for Building and Construction Our Plan to Rebuild a Stronger Tasmania 5 Our Investment in Essential Services Delivering a total construction value of (est) $42.1 million Police Housing Upgrades Construction Value (est) $8.7 million Remote area policing is a critical Funding of $8.7 million will be provided to complete role for Tasmania Police and we the upgrade of all police housing by June 2022. The Department has been progressing with the upgrade of know housing in good condition police housing in line with the Government’s budget and encourages police officers and Capital Investment Program (CIP) initiatives since 2014. their families to live and stay in The Department will complete the upgrade of the final 29 our country areas. 29 residences in police houses over the next two years with this additional regional areas across the state are funding. These houses are located in various regional areas around the state and will provide a significant economic set to undergo upgrades. stimulus to a number of regional Tasmanian communities. Launceston Police Station Refurbishment Construction Value (est) $7 million Funding of $7 million will be provided to undertake urgent infrastructure upgrades and accommodation renovations to the Launceston Police Station. The refurbishment will provide Police Officers and the community with modern, fit for purpose premises well Mark Shelton into the future. Improvements to the Police Station include Minister for Police, Fire & Emergency Management amenities upgrades, security upgrades, structural repairs, and internal redevelopment. 6 Our Plan to Rebuild a Stronger Tasmania Child and Family Learning Centres Construction Value (est) $7 million The Government will provide an additional $7 million for Child and Family Learning Centres (CFLCs) for a total investment of $28 million.