Media | State News

Tradies left in the lurch by Labor’s HomeBuilder delay

1st July 2020

Construction projects are being delayed and jobs are put at risk every day Annastacia Palaszczuk dithers on signing up to the Federal Government’s HomeBuilder program.

LNP Deputy Leader Tim Mander said almost a month had passed since the $680 million HomeBuilder program was announced, but the Palaszczuk Labor Government still hadn’t committed to it.

“Queensland is the only jurisdiction besides the ACT not to sign up to this job-creating program,” Mr Mander said.

“Queensland must sign up to ensure we get our fair share of the $680 million program.

“Home builders across the state are relying on this funding to support projects and secure local jobs.

“The Palaszczuk Labor Government is holding the construction industry back at a time when Queensland has the longest unemployment queue in our state’s history.

“More than 174,000 Queenslanders have lost their job in the last three months and more will go if Annastacia Palaszczuk continues to dither on committing to stimulus measures like HomeBuilder.

“Labor was the first government to cancel its Budget and it’s shaping as the last to sign up for HomeBuilder.

“This is just another example of how Annastacia Palaszczuk has turned a health crisis into an economic crisis.”

LNP Shadow Minister for Housing and Public Works Michael Hart said signing up for the HomeBuilder program should have been a no brainier.

“Once again the Palaszczuk Labor Government has been way too slow off the mark,” Mr Hart said.

“The construction industry needed certainty and decisiveness from Labor to sign up to this program and secure jobs.

“The Palaszczuk Labor Government is more interested in politics than securing local jobs.

“It’s a terrible indictment on Annastacia Palaszczuk that almost every other state and territory has beaten Queensland to the punch and unlocked the economic stimulus from this program.”