**Check against delivery**
Thank you everyone.
Thank you to Aunty Sharon Holbrook for your kind welcome to country. Reminding us that it always was and always will be. And I pay my deepest respect to you and all elders of lutruwita.
Thank you Prime Minister, for such a generous introduction, and for all your support over the years.
Thank you Anita, for being an incredible Deputy who I know is always there for wise advice and moral support.
Thank you Dean, for reminding us why we can’t give the Liberals 14 years.
And most of all, thanks to all of you for coming here today, from all around the state.
Our incredible candidates and supporters who are working hard every day.
Thank you for all the hours you volunteer to help us fight for a better future for Tasmania.
For all the doors you knock on and the conversations you have with Tasmanians.
For sharing Labor’s plans with them, and hearing their stories about how they’ve been let down by 10 years of the Liberals.
I hear those same stories everywhere I go across Tasmania.
From people who are drowning under the cost of living – which the Liberals have done nothing about for 10 years.
From people who can’t afford their power bill, and dread the next one – since Jeremy Rockliff voted against capping prices three times.
Who can’t believe we’re paying mainland prices for our power after 100 years of investment in the Hydro.
From people who are finding it harder and harder to afford the weekly shop.
People who can’t get the childcare they need, to go to work and pay the bills.
People whose rents just keep going up, and up, and up – $200 a week more over the past 10 years.
People who are stuck in the rental cycle.
Who can’t get close to saving enough for a deposit.
And who’ve lost all hope of ever owning a home of their own.
Or who worry their kids, or their grandkids, won’t get their shot at home ownership either.
People right across this state, who can see that if the Liberals haven’t done anything by now, they never will.
But friends, don’t be mistaken.
The fact the Liberals haven’t done anything on cost of living in 10 years doesn’t mean there’s nothing that can be done.
The fact they’ve broken all their promises on power prices doesn’t mean Tasmanians have to keep paying mainland prices for our power.
The fact the Liberals spend five times more on government ads than on childcare doesn’t mean parents have to keep turning down shifts, turning down jobs, or postponing their careers, all while struggling to pay the bills.
The fact the Liberals have done nothing in 10 years to address the housing crisis doesn’t mean renters should have to keep forking out for unaffordable rents.
And it certainly doesn’t mean young Tasmanians should give up on their dream of owning their own home.
It just means that after 10 years, it’s time for the Tasmanian Liberals to go.
Because in their place we can elect a government that will take urgent action on the cost of living.
That will ensure Tasmanians once again pay Tasmanian prices for Tasmanian power – just as we did for 100 years.
A government that will invest in more affordable childcare, so parents can go to work and pay the bills.
That will provide free, healthy lunches in primary schools, so parents save money on the weekly shop and so no Tasmanian child goes hungry.
A government that will invest in social and public housing so people aren’t left out in the cold.
A government with a plan to increase renters’ rights, and axe the unfair fees they’re charged.
A government with a plan to build 2,000 new apartments, to help first home buyers get a foot in the door.
A government with a plan for a better future.
Urgent action on cost of living.
Tasmanian prices for Tasmanian power.
More affordable childcare, and free school lunches.
A better deal for renters.
A better shot for first home buyers.
That’s my plan for Tasmania.
For a better future for Tasmania.
But there’s more we need to do.
I want to share with you today more details of Labor’s plan.
It’s a plan to bring back hope for Tasmania’s young people and renters.
A plan to slam the door shut on 10 years of Liberal failure.
And to enable thousands of young Tasmanians to open a new one.
It’s a plan I call GameChanger.
And it’s based on a very simple idea: if you can afford to pay your rent, you can afford to pay a mortgage.
Labor’s GameChanger scheme will enable any eligible Tasmanian who does not currently own their own home to buy a house with zero deposit.
Zero deposit. Zero barriers.
GameChanger means a young couple renting today could start looking at open homes next weekend – and be living in their very own home before they know it.
It means they’ll be paying their own mortgage – not someone else’s.
It means a chance to get a foot in the door.
A real shot at long term financial security.
A GameChanger for their future.
After 10 years of the Liberals, we know the housing crisis is so bad that even people with good jobs are shut out of the housing market.
Housing is a problem the Liberals have allowed to get so bad that it’s affecting people from all walks of life.
Which is why we will set the income thresholds for GameChanger at $150,000 for singles, and $200,000 for couples – with extra allowances for those with kids.
You’ll still need to meet the other requirements from banks, but we’ll ensure people are pre-approved through a simple process, so people who’ve been waiting far too long already can get into a home sooner.
And we’ll commit to keeping the scheme open for at least the next two years, so people who aren’t quite there yet know they’ll get their shot too.
Under Labor, if you can pay your rent, we’ll help you get a mortgage.
We’ll put up the deposit you need – and you can pay us back when you sell the house.
After you’ve built up equity of your own.
When you’re ready to move into a bigger place, because your family’s grown.
Or when you’ve got ahead of your repayments, and want to buy us out.
It’s up to you.
But the point is that choice will be yours.
Because Labor will make sure you have a shot at home ownership.
We’ll make sure that having to pay rent each week doesn’t stop you from being able to afford to buy a place of your own.
In fact, more than that.
We’ll recognise that paying rent each week means you should be able to buy a place of your own.
Because if you can afford rent, you can afford a mortgage.
Zero deposit. Zero barriers.
A better future for Tasmanians.
This is the sort of thing Labor governments do best.
They tackle the hardest problems.
They think big.
They change lives for the better.
And they do everything they can to make sure everyone gets a crack.
And that’s what this election is all about.
Do you really want to stick with the Liberals, who’ve done nothing for 10 years while the cost of living has gone up and up?
Or do you want someone who’ll take urgent action on cost of living?
Do you stick with the Liberals, who’ve broken all the promises they made on power prices?
Or do you want someone who’ll ensure Tasmanians pay Tasmanian prices for Tasmanian power?
Do you stick with the Liberals, who’ve spent five times as much on ads to promote themselves, as they have on childcare for your kids?
Or do you want someone who’ll invest in more affordable childcare, so you can go to work and pay the bills?
Do you stick with the people who’ve seen Tasmania go from the most affordable state for housing, to the least?
Or do you go with Labor, who’ll bring back the dream of home ownership for thousands of Tasmanians?
Do you really believe giving the Liberals 14 years will make things any better for you and your family?
Or is it time to give someone else a go?
You know the answer.
They’ve had 10 years.
If they haven’t done it by now, they never will.
We can’t give them 14 years.
Because we need urgent action on the cost of living.
We need to pay Tasmanian prices for Tasmanian power.
We need more affordable childcare, and free school lunches.
We need a game changer on housing, to bring back hope.
We need a better future for Tasmania.
We need a Labor government.
Thank you.
Rebecca White MP
Labor Leader
