Home Improvement tradie scheme voucher wait proving ‘huge problem’ for local businesses, applicants

BUSINESS owner Deanne Claydon thinks the Government’s Home Improvement Scheme is a great idea. But, with like so many other businesses, it is how it is being implemented that is now becoming a ‘huge problem’

Apprentice carpenter Matt Ellison at work at Territory business Invision NT. Invision’s owner Deanne Claydon says that the way the Government’s Home Improvement Scheme is being implemented is proving to be a ‘huge problem’ for her business and customers. Picture: Glenn Campbell

DEANNE Claydon has no doubt the Gunner Government’s Home Improvement Scheme was a good idea.

However, like with so many businesses, it is how it is being implemented that is now a big problem for her.

Her business Invision NT employs eight staff, three of which are apprentices, and she said it was a great relief when she heard the scheme’s announcement.

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“We worked extremely hard and long hours to quote numerous amounts of work, staying up late getting them ready,” she said.

“I had to turn away around five quotes a day because we had so many. That was four weeks ago.

“I’ve had only one customer from 13 quotes that has just had his voucher approved. I know of people who haven’t seen any.”

Mrs Claydon said another big problem for the business was that customers they were quoting work for put it on hold to apply for an Improvement Scheme voucher.

“Potentially I had three jobs that would have been done this month but that hasn’t happened. One of those customers contacted the NT Government to find out where she is in the queue and she has been told she can expect to wait up until August to get her voucher.

“We had that job secured and now it is on hold until August. Thirteen vouchers in three months seemed manageable but now that it could spread out until October, 13, it is not going to be enough.

“There is also the fear they may not get it done at all.”

Territory Alliance’s candidate for Johnston Steven Klose blasted the Gunner Government for “botching” the scheme.

“The scheme is good, but its implementation has been dreadful,” Mr Klose said.

“It’s just another thing the Government has made a mess of.

“The scheme was meant to help businesses now, but if it is late and if it is slow, it may be too late to save some of these businesses.”

Another applicant told the NT News that, when they lodged their submission, they received an email response thanking them for their application and saying it may take up to 15 business days to assess.

However, over a month later, they had not even heard back from the Department yet, let alone knowing if their submission had been assessed.

“I met every requirement asked of me to submit a valid application for the scheme, and then some,” he said.

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“My submission included my preferred tradesman’s quote — as required — which included his preferred job start and finish date.

“Both those dates have already come and gone now and I have still not even received a response from the department as to whether they’ve looked at the submission yet.

“What does that mean for my application? Is it still even valid? Nobody has any idea what’s going on. It’s a shambles.”

Chief Minister Michel Gunner has promised the scheme’s approval rate will increase with more staff being put on to speed up the scheme.