Meaghan Scanlon is right at home as Housing Minister as she fights for her political career

Meaghan Scanlon is a housing minister in a cost of living crisis where polling suggests Labor will lose government. Truth is, it’s the best portfolio to save her marginal seat.

Meaghan Scanlon is a Housing Minister in a cost-of-living crisis where polling suggests Labor will lose government. Truth is, it’s the best portfolio to save her marginal seat.

At 24, in 2017, the Gaven MP was the youngest woman elected to the state parliament. She was promoted to assistant minister for tourism development.

Three years later she became minister for the environment and the Great Barrier Reef.

These are lovely portfolios where you get to be photographed with koalas and involve trips to exotic locations – minus a bushfire or dingo attack – you get media friendly announcements.

Her appointment as Housing Minister responsible for the homeless, just more than a year ago like with police or health, means fronting daily as the Minister for Bad News.

Worse still, her home town is Queensland’s high rent capital. On Wednesday, Ms Scanlon pencilled in her diary the Connect 2 Home stakeholder day at Carrara Stadium.

Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon at the Connect 2 Home event at Carrara Stadium.

The Bulletin headlines were on the CBD homeless camp at Southport and council safety survey showing an increase in concerns by residents about crime.

But the gift of being in government, unlike opposition, is the power to make quick positive changes.

The stadium was packed with hundreds of stalls where clients were given bags of goodies – organisers likened it to The Ekka.

Ms Scanlon was chatting to the elderly, talking to team leaders of a new critical response team and later sitting inside their van which has dropped by homeless hot spots like Southport.

Was she worried about taking up the portfolio? Would it make her an even bigger negative political target for the opposition leading into the October poll?

“My family story is one of public housing and government investments supporting the opportunities my parents got in life,” she replied.

“My mum grew up in Moe (in Victoria) – it would be described these days as social housing. Dad grew up in Inala, back then they called it Housing Commission. Mum’s parents, I know, went to buy their home from the government, and we still have that program today.”

The Scanlon family bought their first home in Nerang. The Minister now resides nearby.

Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon with the new critical response team van to help the homeless on the Gold Coast.

Gold Coast Homelessness Network chairperson Maria Leebeek says the network has members in 200 services. They are seeing more dual income working parents and older people.

Given Ms Leebeek is on the front line, I asked if she was optimistic about the future.

“I have optimism in the fact we have had a range of support funding to assist people immediately, I think from both the state and the commonwealth that has occurred, to get immediate relief for people,” she replied.

Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon talking to service providers at the Connect 2 Home event at Carrara Stadium.

However, the sector wants continuing delivery of immediate housing relief. This is as bigger election story for Labor and the LNP opposition as the trams and Coomera Connector.

In the meantime, Ms Scanlon as the Housing Minister seems right at home.

“I love being the Housing Minister. I know it’s a challenging portfolio but it’s why I got in this job, to create change and help people in need,” she said.

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Ready to listen

The LNP’s Gaven candidate Bianca Stone, never far from Labor rival Meaghan Scanlon, was at the Connect 2 You event at Carrara Stadium.

Her video on Facebook showed the former Sunrise reporter has lost none of her skills, in an upbeat series of interviews with clients checking services for those in need.

Labrador councillor Joe Wilkinson also made an appearance. Homeless network organisers have reached out to the new council representative, and they say the support along with The Suns gave the event a big boost in profile.

Originally published as Meaghan Scanlon is right at home as Housing Minister as she fights for her political career