John, did you hear?

Tasmania's Public Housing debt has been wiped!

The Liberals came all the way to Tasmania to announce they'd signed the cheque, but they deserve no credit for it. They were dragged here. They knew this problem existed and they did nothing about it, until they were forced to.

Today is historic. It's a victory and it's a relief. And it's going to make a hell of a difference to hundreds of families who are sleeping in tents and cars, who need a roof over their heads way more than the Commonwealth Government needs our interest payments. This is for them. For them, this is a chance at a new life.

And I've got to say, this is a long time coming, and people poured themselves into making today happen. This victory belongs completely to the people of Tasmania and to the people on the mainlaind who have given us their support. There are many of you. Thank you.

Your ongoing support inspires me to work hard every day. You and I both know, that when we stand side by side, we are strong.

Wiping Tasmania's public housing debt is your victory. It was you who pushed for the debt to be waived for years. You argued the case at every opportunity, and you didn't take no for an answer.

You said to me you wanted this done. I told you, you give me the balance of power, and you'll get it. You voted me in, you elected an independent into the balance of power, and trusted me to deliver.

I'm making good on my end of that promise.

Today's announcement confirms that:

• Every dollar of the $157 million remaining debt owing to the Commonwealth is erased.
• The next interest and principal payment from the state government will be zero.
• All savings to the government will remain within the housing budget.
• The housing budget will grow every year.
• Every new home built will be reported on in a way that is transparent and upfront for all to see, every three months, along with where, and how much of that build is coming out of the additional funding available through this deal.
• Tasmania won't have its GST contribution reduced as a result of the additional money for public and social housing.
• No future government can backtrack on this debt waiver. It's gone for good.
  

Today didn't happen by accident. It was a long hard slog to get here. My role was to be the independent vote to get this over the line, but I couldn't have done it without the backing of the people of Tasmania and the work that went into getting to this stage, from people across the social services sector, across housing developers, community activists, and even campaigning media organisations who never let this issue fall to one side.

Take a bow, pat yourselves on the back, and breathe in the fact that you dragged a bunch of Liberal MPs out to Launceston today to announce a policy they don't support. That's called surrender. And you only surrender when you're up against superior force. That's what you are.

Jacqui

PS: I’m pretty strict when it comes to donations. I never want to be in the pocket of someone else. It’s great because it means I’m maybe the only politician in the Senate who can make her own mind up on an issue and vote my conscience rather than how my donors want me to vote. But that comes with a cost too, because it means I’ve got to rely on public donations to keep this boat afloat. Unlike other politicians, your donation won’t buy you any special access or influence. What it’s funding is a true independent.

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Authorised by G. Williams, Jacqui Lambie Network, Burnie, Tasmania 7320