Proof the "Building Tasmania" restructure was a thought bubble

MEDIA RELEASE 18 AUGUST 2026

Minister admits replacement legislation for Homes Tasmania won't exist until next financial year — proof the "Building Tasmania" restructure was a thought bubble

The Minister for Housing has today confirmed in Parliament that legislation to formally replace Homes Tasmania will not be ready until the next financial year — a stunning admission that exposes the Government's dismantling of Homes Tasmania and the Department of State Growth as a rushed, unplanned exercise with no legal or administrative foundation in place.

 Responding to a question from Ms Burnet today, the Minister confirmed the legislative framework needed to formally wind up Homes Tasmania and stand up Building Tasmania in its place is still months away — despite the Government having already dissolved State Growth, moved staff and functions, and repeatedly told Tasmanians that housing delivery was being "fixed" by the restructure.

 "This is confirmation of what many of us have suspected since the Premier's announcement: that this restructure was a thought bubble, not a plan," Ms Burnet said.

 "The Government tore down Homes Tasmania and State Growth first, got rid of it’s Secretary and is only now trying to work out the legislation to make it all legal. That is not considered public administration — it is government by press release.

 "Tasmanians going through the worst housing crisis in our history deserve a functioning housing system, not a department in legal and administrative limbo while the paperwork is drafted after the fact.

 "We already know from the Crawford review and the KPMG financial review that Homes Tasmania was hamstrung by confused governance and unreliable financial systems. The Government should havein consulted with the sector to come up with a clear plan and legislation before it threw the whole system into a second upheaval in five years.

 "Every month this drags on is a month of uncertainty for Community Housing Providers, for construction partners, and for the more than 5,500 Tasmanians on the social housing waiting list who have no idea who is actually accountable for building them a home.

 "Good luck delivering 10,000 social and affordable homes through a department that doesn't yet legally exist. This confirms the Government rushed the announcement without doing the basic groundwork first — and it is Tasmanians in housing stress who will pay the price through further delay."

Ms Burnet is calling on the Government to provide Parliament with clear, regular reporting on the status of the transition, including impacts on staff, Community Housing Providers and industry partners.

 "Tasmanians in the housing queue don't have the luxury of waiting for the Government to catch up on legislation it should have written before it tore the old system down," Ms Burnet said.