The Palaszczuk government will convene a Housing Summit to address the pressing need for housing solutions, beginning this Friday with a roundtable of important government and non-government players.
It comes days after research commissioned by the Property Council of Australia revealed 220,000 people – a population the size of Townsville and Gladstone combined – are seeking to leave the southern states and head north to Queensland in coming years.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured above) stated that this week’s roundtable was a first step towards the Queensland Housing Summit, which will take place in October, and that it will feed into National Cabinet’s examination of the housing and cost of living issues.
“Nothing is more important than having a roof over your head – it’s a basic need – and the stories of people without secure housing are heartbreaking,” Palaszczuk said.
“Affordable housing is critical to maintaining our great Queensland lifestyle.
“Many of the causes of the increased housing costs are national and need national solutions.”
The roundtable will include the Premier, Deputy Premier, Public Works, Communities, and Housing Ministers, as well as the Lord Mayor of Brisbane and the LGAQ.
Key non-government players will also be involved, including the Property Council of Australia, QShelter, QCOSS, the REIQ, Master Builders, and the Planning Institute of Australia, among others.
It will address vital challenges such as unlocking land and housing supplies, expediting social housing, and – most importantly – the urgent need for housing collaboration across all levels of government and the business sector.
Jen Williams, Queensland Executive Director of the Property Council of Australia, said that the issue of housing supply was both complex and challenging and required the alignment of all stakeholders to formulate a sustainable and lasting solution.
“Increasing housing supply is not something that can be achieved by the State Government or industry alone, and this summit recognises the many and various groups that have a role to play in tackling the issue,” Ms Williams said.
“All facets of the housing spectrum must be considered at the summit – from social and affordable housing, right through to boosting the delivery of a range of typologies of privately-owned dwellings and rental accommodation.
“Critically, along with the State Government, industry and community stakeholders, the summit will also bring councils to the table to discuss what can be done at a local government level. The Property Council is pleased to see the summit has the support of the Lord Mayor of Brisbane.
“Housing is the number one challenge many communities around Australia are grappling with, and it is particularly critical in South East Queensland due to our region’s extraordinary population growth.”
Ms Williams said last week the Property Council published research which revealed that 220,000 people from Melbourne and Sydney may move to Queensland in the next five years – the equivalent of the populations of Townsville and Gladstone combined.
“To harness the opportunities this growth will bring, we need a shared plan to ensure all Queenslanders are safely housed. This summit will be the first step in bringing stakeholders together to formulate that plan,” Ms Williams said.
“Queensland is the envy of other states, with its lifestyle offering, relative affordability, and now opportunities like the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games on the horizon. I have no doubt that we can also be a national leader when it comes to new and innovative ways to boost housing supply.”
The news follows last week’s announcement of a refreshed Housing Supply Expert Panel.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said that he has asked the State’s Housing Supply Expert Panel to give recommendations on what more Councils should do to address housing supply.
Miles said a way forward, in partnership with all those who have responsibility for housing, was urgently needed.
“Queensland is one of the best places in the world to live, and it’s no wonder people are choosing to live, work and grow their families here,” Miles said.
“The Property Council of Australia’s report showed that Queensland’s population grew by almost 750,000 between 2011 and 2021, with close to 90 per cent in south-east Queensland.
“A compounding set of circumstances including massive population growth, supply chain and workforce restraints and multiple weather events have created a housing challenge.”