Editorial: Shocking toll of housing crisis must spur action

Revelations of the housing crisis fuelling our suicide rate are stark and demand not only a conversation but also action, writes the editor.

Today we prominently report on harrowing data from Suicide Prevention Australia, and the affect the state’s housing crisis is having on the mental health of Queenslanders, in order to have these conversations out in the open.

For most, it would come as no surprise to learn that money, cost of living and housing availability and affordability are a leading cause of suicidal ideations in Queensland.

The Courier-Mail’s Hitting Home campaign has delved into a raft of issues created by the housing crisis, but today’s revelations are stark and demand not only a conversation but also action.

In this year’s state budget, Treasurer Cameron Dick announced he had set aside $425m every year to fund mental health services across the state on the back of The Courier-Mail’s Through the Cracks campaign.

The government has rightly been lauded for this.

It would come as no shock that people are under extreme stress at this time of year, with the festive season just around the corner and the cost of living continuing to get more out of hand as interest rates keep rising, but it is startling to see one in five people who have suicidal thoughts say housing access and affordability is one of their main worries.

And we urge anyone who is feeling these constraints or pressure and may be having these thoughts to contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Queensland Council of Social Services chief executive Aimee McVeigh, who has been a vocal part of the Hitting Home campaign, said those at high risk needed hope.

“They need to know when there will be housing available. They need details – a date. It is incredibly stressful for people living with children in cars to see the rising of rents and the tightening of vacancies,” Ms McVeigh said.

Hope that there will be brighter days ahead could be the difference between life and death for someone having suicidal thoughts.

In a few short months the pressure mounted by The Courier-Mail’s Hitting Home campaign has seen the state government: announce it would investigate the impact of short-stay rentals on the market; squash a controversial change to land tax; announce changes that would allow homeowners to rent out their granny flats; announce it would double its Housing Investment Fund to build thousands of new social housing homes; slash red tape to speed up delivery of emergency housing; audit land across Queensland to identify prime pockets for urban development and fast track a review of proposed satellite cities; and host a much needed housing summit to hear from industry experts.

During her keynote address at the housing summit, Annastacia Palaszczuk spoke of the homeless crisis and said: “Families out there are counting on us ... they’re counting on government working together with everybody in this room to think about how we can create a better life for them.”

The government recently announced a coal royalties bonanza, generating four times as much extra money as initially forecast this year alone, raking in $2.95bn in 2022-23, taking total royalties for this financial year to $21.54bn.

The Treasurer said $3bn had been set aside in a “long-term asset held by the Consolidated Fund, dedicated to future infrastructure in regional Queensland”.

Industry experts believe that $2.95bn in extra royalties is an underestimation. Dedicating any extra cash from coal to dealing with Queensland’s housing crisis seems like a no-brainer.

GIVING BACK TO LIFESAVERS

With many people about to set off on their annual summer beach holidays, it is timely to take a moment to remember and give support to the selfless work of the state’s awesome army of volunteer surf lifesavers.

Surf Life Saving Australia is today launching its Surf Life Saving Innovation Fund which gives power to generous Queensland supporters by allowing them to choose where they want to direct their donations and then updates them on how their donations are making an impact.

The fund will aim to support initiatives such as addressing climate change and a program to help teach children with a disability basic water safety skills in a modified Nippers setting.

It has never been so easy to support a group of people who give so much of their time and energy to supporting our safety in the water.

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