Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk presented the results report from the landmark housing summit held in late October on Thursday, announcing a $56 million cash injection into measures primarily aimed at providing short-term assistance to individuals at danger of homelessness.
For the first time, the Summit brought together all levels of government, as well as the construction and real estate industries, as well as planners, developers, community service organisations, homelessness activists, and communal housing providers,
Approximately 200 individuals attended in person, with many more participating digitally.
The Outcomes Report focuses on expanding housing supply and increasing housing support for Queensland. Key actions include:
- $11.7 million to expand tenancy sustainment responses to support vulnerable people to maintain their tenancies
- $10 million to expand private rental assistance products and services for people experiencing severe rental stress
- $10 million to deliver more temporary emergency accommodation with onsite support
- $8.5 million additional support for after-hours homelessness outreach services
- a further $5 million boost to the Immediate Housing Response
- $5 million for a Community Engagement and Awareness Campaign on growth and housing diversity
- $3.3 million for cost of living relief, including emergency relief and food relief
- $2.5 million to support the review of the South-East Queensland Regional Plan
This $56 million commitment follows a $1 billion increase in financing for the Housing Investment Fund announced during the Summit, as well as a $5 million increase in funds for the Immediate Response package announced following the Housing Roundtable in September of this year. This brings the government’s investment in social and affordable housing to a new high of about $4 billion.
In addition, the government is conducting an audit of state government-owned land and buildings for potential residential uses, and it is collaborating with local governments and non-governmental organisations to identify similar opportunities. The audit is expected to take three months to complete.
The paper also outlines that the government will look into the merit of land tax concession in the context of delivery of affordable housing.
Queensland Executive Director of the Property Council, Jen Williams, said the Outcomes Report binds Government to a series of deliverables, across planning, infrastructure, community engagement and improving the diversity of housing.
“In September, the Property Council released A Home for Every Queenslander, coupled with data showing the influx of interstate migration to Queensland is expected to continue,” Ms Williams said.
“Pleasingly, the Outcomes Report picks up on many of the recommended actions in the Property Council’s paper, along with providing an additional $56 million in funding for delivery.
“The commitments to reform body corporate legislation to facilitate redevelopment in infill areas, and to declare new Priority Development Areas to bring more land to market, are applauded by the Property Council.
“A whole-of-government approach, through the establishment of a Housing Delivery Board and a stronger Economic Development Queensland, will ensure the actions within the Report are prioritised and delivered upon.
“While containing a strong program of actions and welcome initiatives, the ‘areas for further work’, such as incentives to promote build to rent, need to be brought forward to today.
“The Housing Summit provided a unique opportunity for Government to deliver a suite of bold reform measures to address immediate pressures and set Queensland up for future growth.
“Over the coming weeks and months as further detail is revealed on the programs, timing and prioritization of the key actions, the Property Council looks forward to working with Government to ensure the actions deliver a substantial boost to the diverse, affordable housing supply Queensland so desperately needs.”