Waiting line for public housing drops in Ipswich

THE waiting line to get public housing in Ipswich has dropped by more than 506 people in the past two years.

THE waiting line to get public housing in Ipswich has dropped by more than 506 people in the past two years.

Figures released by the Queensland Government show a 39% drop in the number of people waiting to get public housing in the city - just below the state-wide average.

In March 2012, there were 1301 people waiting for public housing while at the end of September this year there were 795.

Public Works Minister Tim Mander said the improvement was due to the government helping people move into the private rental market.

"We've really challenged people that the first option isn't always public housing," he said.

"We are encouraging people who are capable of it to get into the private housing market.

"For a lot of people the issue has been getting the money for a bond. They can afford paying week-to-week, but it's the initial money to pay a bond that's the trouble. We've been providing things like bond loans that gets them into the market."

Labor Shadow Housing Minister Yvette D'Ath said Labor governments had introduced the initiatives that reduced waiting lists.

"Once again, we see the Newman Government trying to claim credit for Labor's initiatives," she said.

"It was Labor who introduced RentConnect. It was Labor who built record amounts of social housing across Queensland as part of the national response to the Global Financial Crisis.

"It was Labor who introduced the National Rental Affordability Scheme. Labor also used bond loans to give people a hand up. Between conservative governments at the State and Federal level, NRAS has been scrapped, the social housing has stopped and advocacy services have been axed. Under the LNP, building of social housing has stopped altogether and the jobless rate is climbing."

WAITING LIST IN NEARBY CENTRES:

Toowoomba - 2012: 1015 - 2014: 449 - 56% drop

Sunshine Coast - 2012: 2188 - 2014: 1613 - 26% drop

Inala - 2012: 1584 - 2014: 714 - 55% drop

Queensland - 2012: 30,723; 2014: 17,985; 41% drop

Originally published as Waiting line for public housing drops in Ipswich