Michael Ferguson,Leader of the House
This week saw a productive week in Parliament with the passage of three Bills that are so important to Tasmania's COVID-19 recovery.
There was full support for the first tranche of our regulatory reform, endorsement of the Australian and Tasmanian Governments' HomeBuilder schemes, and land tax certainty for commercial landlords.
The Land Tax Amendment Bill 2020 amends the Land Tax Act 2000, allowing for an exemption from land tax in the 2020-21 financial year for commercial property owners who have been adversely financially impacted. This is part of the Tasmanian Liberal Government's economic and support measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our HomeBuilder Grants Bill 2020 supports both the Australian Government's $25,000 grant and the Tasmanian Government's $20,000 grant, meaning Tasmanians can potentially access up to $45,000 for their new home build. Together, these grants make Tasmania the best place in Australia to build a house right now. They will also assist the residential construction market by encouraging the commencement of new home builds and renovations this year, stimulating investment in the private sector, strengthening the economy and creating jobs.
The Building and Construction (Regulatory Reform Amendments) Bill 2020 is about cutting unnecessary red tape and addressing sources of frustration for businesses. These changes are part of a broader range of reforms that will be progressively implemented and brought to Parliament this year and into the next. By cutting red tape, we are rebuilding business confidence and making Tasmanian one of the best places in Australia to do business.
As we have long said, the best way to get our budget back on track, grow business confidence and create jobs is to grow the economy, and that is exactly what we are doing.
