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Master Builders wants $5000 boost for first-home buyers in regional WA

Staff WriterEastern Reporter

MASTER Builders WA wants the State Government to support the struggling regional building industry by providing a $5000 boost to the $10,000 First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) in the upcoming state budget.

Director Michael McLean said builders in the Pilbara, Kimberley, Mid-West, Great Southern, South-West and Goldfields regions made up over 30 per cent of the association’s membership and they were facing serious difficulties in today’s depressed economic climate.

“The building approvals data from most regional councils highlights a depressing trend which has contributed to significant downturns in local building business and the loss of skilled labour in many cases from these regional towns,” he said.

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“A 12-month $5,000 boost to FHOG, targeted across regional WA, would provide a cost-effective economic stimulus to get the local building industry going again and lift the spirit of regional folk.”

Master Builders has already written to Premier Mark McGowan, Treasurer Ben Wyatt and several ministers about the importance of retaining the $10,000 FHOG in its entirety and giving regional WA an extra boost of $5,000 and have also launched an social media campaign in the lead up to the May Budget announcement.

“Master Builders works tirelessly to represent the majority of housing builders, many of whom are small to medium businesses, but we need more than one voice to ensure this important message is heard,” Mr McLean said.

“Master Builders firmly believes the $10,000 FHOG in conjunction with a $5,000 boost for regional WA should be viewed as an investment in jobs, which is in line with the State Government’s Jobs Act, and not a cost to taxpayers.

“In addition to sustaining our industry, this stimulus will create invaluable multiplier effects that benefit many other sectors.”