The Liberals have allowed Tasmanian’s rentals to be converted to short stay accommodation for too long. With a new government and in the balance of power, the Greens will put strong limits on short stay accommodation.
A safe and affordable home isn’t just a basic need, it’s a fundamental human right. Trying to find an affordable place to live in lutruwita / Tasmania has become a nightmare. Tasmanians are struggling in the cost of living and housing crises.
It didn’t used to be so bad, but for more than a decade the Liberals have allowed short stay accommodation to expand unchecked across the state. It’s ripped thousands of homes off the rental market, and jacked up the prices of available rentals.
Without proper regulation, the number of Airbnbs have just kept increasing. 1000 Tasmanian homes have been lost to Airbnb in the last four years. Despite promising to introduce a 5% levy on short stays at the last election, the Liberals still haven’t done a thing.
Last election, Labor committed to pause new permits for Airbnbs. We repeatedly asked Labor to recommit to their policy of pausing new permits for Airbnb in Parliament earlier this year, but they wouldn’t. They need to be clear with Tasmanians where they stand now.
The Greens will continue to fight for renters’ rights in the next Parliament, and push for real restrictions on Airbnbs. We’ll put an immediate stop to new whole-home short stays, and phase out existing lists in residential areas in the balance of power.
