Andrew Nikolic (Bass, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am pleased to inform the House that the Mayor of Launceston, Albert Van Zetten, is in the chamber today. It is timely he is in the gallery because he can confirm my good news for first homebuyers who are struggling to find an affordable home in Sydney or Melbourne. My advice is: have a look at property prices in regional areas like Northern Tasmania. The Tasmanian Real Estate Institute's March report shows that the median price for a house in Tasmania was $310,000. In Launceston in the previous quarter 58 per cent of houses sold for under $300,000. Using a quick internet search this afternoon, I found more than 20 properties in Launceston for sale under $200,000. Now that is affordable.

I have no doubt that young people wanting to get into the property market where prices are up to $1 million face a very difficult situation. But prices in Sydney and Melbourne do not give an accurate picture of housing affordability more broadly. This year the average mortgage in Australia was more than $400,000; the latest APS figures for Tasmania show the average home loan for owner-occupation of a new house was half that. So I ask people around the country to think—as the Mayor of Launceston does and as I do—and join our wonderful uncrowded lifestyle in Launceston, the most liveable city in Australia.