Editorial: Rental crisis will need input from both sides

There should be more willingness by Labor and LNP politicians to share the limelight in finding housing solutions rather than endlessly blaming each other, writes the editor.

There are no quick fixes to Queensland’s worsening rental crisis.

Successive state and federal governments have launched countless initiatives and committed billions of dollars to improve rental affordability – and the related issue of housing supply – with little impact.

The 2025 Rental Affordability Index by National Shelter and SGS Economics and Planning shows regional Queensland is now the least affordable regional market in Australia.

That comes on top of rental affordability in Brisbane having worsened by 20 per cent in the past five years.

Across the state, many categories of renters – from hospitality workers to pensioners and benefits recipients – now pay more than 30 per cent of their income on rent, which meets the definition of “housing stress”.

Q Shelter CEO Fiona Caniglia has warned that with vacancy stubbornly stuck at 1 per cent, “key workers and families who have never struggled before are now at risk of homelessness”.

But what to do about it? First, it’s important to recognise this is an issue that involves not only all levels of government but also businesses of all sizes and shapes across the country, which face worker shortages if their staff cannot find a place to rent.

As the founder of Housing All Australians – a recently established “business-led initiative dedicated to practical solutions” to the affordable housing crisis – Robert Pradolin, said in the new Rental Affordability Index report: “This is not someone else’s problem – it’s a productivity crisis affecting every sector, every region, every business that relies on workers.”

Private sector involvement and expertise – beyond the purely profit-seeking imperatives of investors and developers – are essential elements of any enduring solution to the housing shortages.

So too is outcome-focused government policy, which is consistent not only at local, state and federal levels but also between the states. On that point, National Shelter chair John Engler was optimistic things were improving, noting in the report that the federal Treasury had recently been given explicit responsibility for renters and rental market policy across Australia. He said this reflected “a necessary alignment between housing outcomes, economic policy and national wellbeing”.

Most of the heavy lifting in improving housing supply is done by the state government and councils and here too, specific policies aside, a key element must be a commitment to working together rather than blame shifting.

There is some reason for hope. A couple of weeks ago the Crisafulli government announced the start of a 75-unit social and affordable housing project in Toowoomba on land acquired from the Toowoomba Regional Council, which also worked with the state to streamline approvals.

But most encouragingly perhaps, the state government media release from Housing Minister Sam O’Connor announcing the project also included quotes from Queensland Labor senator Corrine Mulholland singing the Albanese government’s praises for supporting the scheme though its $10bn Housing Australia Fund.

According to Senator Mulholland, the Toowoomba project, which is also backed by QIC, was a great example of governments, investors and the community working hand-in-hand “to deliver secure, affordable homes close to jobs, transport and essential services”.

We remain, as always, sceptical of any claims made by politicians – of any political colour. But we agree with the sentiment; there should be more of it – more willingness by the different parties with a role to play in solving this crisis, to work together for the common good – regardless of their own vested interests or political priorities.

We also think there should be more willingness by Labor and LNP politicians to share the limelight rather than endlessly blaming each other for all the missed milestones that mark the history of past failed housing policies and actions.

PREPARE FOR STORMS

Our thoughts are with all of those whose property was damaged in the dramatic storms of the past couple of days.

Yes, this is normal for this time of the year – but knowing that is the case does not help one bit if it is your home or car that is damaged.

It also serves as a reminder that if you were not one of the unlucky ones this time, it could be you today or tomorrow – or any afternoon when our summer storms roll through.

And that is why it is always so important to be prepared – and a good place to start is the website getready.qld.gov.au.

It is there you will find step by step planning guides and checklists to make sure you do not forget what you need to do.

The reality is that only a small number of us will suffer property damage this storm season – or at least we hope so. But a couple of hours of preparation will make all the difference if you are.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here