Major parties discuss Tasmania’s housing shortages ahead of the upcoming election

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The major parties have donned hard hats and hi-vis as they spruik their plans to address Tasmania’s housing shortages. The housing pledges come as Labor tries to put pressure on the premier over integrity issues ahead of election day.

Transcript

00:00 A big letter and a bold challenge.

00:05 He doesn't have the confidence that I do to stand here with a signed document.

00:10 Labor MPs have signed a declaration confirming that to their knowledge they're not the subject

00:16 of an integrity commission investigation.

00:19 Now they want the Liberals to do the same.

00:21 We think Tasmanians deserve to know whether or not members of parliament are under investigation

00:26 before they vote for them.

00:28 It's a grubby stunt from Labor, I mean seriously.

00:33 And all my members and candidates comply with the law.

00:37 There are two investigations underway involving politicians.

00:42 But integrity commission rules prevent people from identifying anyone subject to an investigation.

00:49 It's this and the long wait times for investigations to be finalised that has Labor promising to

00:54 review the state's integrity commission.

00:57 We want to see a new robust integrity body that has the powers and the teeth that it

01:03 needs.

01:04 It's part of a range of policies aimed at improving transparency and integrity in the

01:09 state.

01:10 Including lowering donation disclosure amounts to $1,000.

01:15 Not that they're leading by example this election.

01:18 We may never know who has been funding the Liberal and Labor Party's campaign this election.

01:23 The Greens going several steps further calling for a ban on corporate donations.

01:29 The Liberals dismissed the need for integrity reform.

01:33 We've always been open and transparent and we'll continue to be so.

01:38 Both major parties agreed on a few things today.

01:42 The state needs more apartments and they'll be cutting stamp duty in half for units valued

01:49 up to $750,000.

01:52 We want to see 2,000 new apartments built over the next four years.

01:56 We will move heaven and earth to change the housing situation in Tasmania.

02:00 While the stamp duty schemes are open to everyone, the apartments won't end up as short stay

02:06 accommodation.

02:07 There will be eligibility criteria to make sure that they either go into long term rentals

02:12 or into homeowner purchases.

02:14 The Liberals have also promised interest free loans of up to $1 million to prepare land

02:20 for medium density housing.

02:21 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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