Opposition leader David Crisafulli calls for housing summit during stop in Townsville

The Opposition says there needs to be immediate action to the “greatest challenge modern Queensland will face” as a woman broke down explaining how dire housing is in North Queensland. VOTE IN OUR POLL.

Opposition leader David Crisafulli has urged the state government to call a summit on the housing crisis, and demanded Premier Annastacia Palasczuck chair the meeting during a stop in Townsville.

Speaking in front of Yumba Meta, Mr Crisafulli described the unfolding crisis as one of the greatest challenges modern Queensland will face”.

“For over two years we’ve been listening to Queenslanders warning of a crisis that has now developed,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“Queenslanders are living in their cars and out of tents, that is the reality of modern Queensland.”

Mr Crisafulli said squeezes on land available to first-time home buyers had compounded existing stress on the community housing sector and other support groups.

“One solution is to increase land supply. In the last seven years the amount of land approvals has dropped by 27 per-cent,” Mr Crisafulli said.

Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli. Picture: Liam Kidston.

“That has created a feeding frenzy, particularly at the bottom end of the market.

“We will continue to advocate for more social housing, if you read the auditor general’s report, it is damning and it shows a reduction in real terms in the number of social houses in Queensland. It has not gone close to keeping pace with the population, let alone the demand.”

Mr Crisafulli said a housing summit could provide further solutions to address the root causes of the problem.

“We need more land for people to buy and rent, we need more social housing for the vulnerable and we need more community and affordable housing to allow people to transition throughout that journey,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“I want that premier to chair that summit and if she won’t, I will.”

Mulitple Townsville families have been forced to relocate to tents, caravans, camping sites and other locations due to their inability to secure housing.

Other social housing solutions have drawn pushback of their own.

Townsville mum Jessica Carr is one of many forced to live in a tent due to the housing crisis. She's pictured with her kids Ricky, 14, Talisha, 12, and Hayley, 5. Not pictured is her 15-month-old son Sam.

Ayak Majok, a young woman who’s been struggling to find permanent housing, was reduced to tears while talking about the struggles she’s faced in Townsville.

“I’m facing mental health issues, a lot of anxiety and I’m seeing a counsellor,” Ms Majok said.

“It’s very easy for vulnerable people to slip through the cracks. I’ve seen people in very bad circumstances because they didn’t have the chance to be in the women’s shelter like I do.

“I’m hoping to not land back in that same circumstance, it would be really good to make some change.”

Deputy Premier Steven Miles on Thursday morning announced a refreshed housing supply expert panel to tackle the issue and assist local councils in addressing the matter.

“Addressing housing supply and affordability should be the number one priority of local government right now,” Mr Miles said.

“Some councils have out of date housing strategies that need to be updated given the population growth we have seen.

“The housing shortage isn’t just in the South East. People are moving to the regions too and we need to support all our councils to increase housing supply.”

Queensland Executive Director of the Property Council Jen Williams described the current situation as a ‘precipice’ saying that new research shows that nearly 220,000 additional people are considering moving interstate to Queensland.

“Bold decisions must be made right now,” Ms Williams said.

“The time is right to bring together experts across industry, government and community sectors, to kickstart a bold reform agenda that will turbocharge the delivery of new housing across the state.”

Originally published as Opposition leader David Crisafulli calls for housing summit during stop in Townsville