Meaghan Scanlon defends progress on fixing Qld’s housing crisis

Queensland’s Housing Minister has defended the state government’s progress almost 12 months on from the flagship housing summit, while taking a massive swipe at her LNP counterpart.

Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon has vehemently defended the state government’s progress almost 12 months on from the flagship housing summit, while taking a massive swipe at her LNP counterpart.

Announcing 92 new social and affordable homes in Chermside on Thursday, Ms Scanlon was pressed about whether the government had made sufficient inroads in addressing the crisis.

“You know, I hear the LNP criticising us about these projects,” she said.

“They stand up in front of projects that we’re actually building when they cut the housing construction program when they were last in office.

“David Crisafulli decided to put the ex-housing minister (Everton MP Tim Mander) that saw social housing in this state go backwards by 428 homes into his shadow cabinet.

“So I won’t be lectured to by the LNP.”

Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at a housing roundtable at 1 William St. Picture: Steve Pohlner

But the Minister appeared to be caught on the backfoot when asked about a nearby Chermside housing project in Ethel St.

When that project was announced back in May 2022 by Treasurer Cameron Dick and then-Housing Minister Leeanne Enoch, it was stated the first tenants would move in by this month.

However, no one is in those homes to date.

Asked by reporters when people would be moving in, Ms Scanlon said she would have to find out further details.

“Of course, as with any project at the moment, a lot of community housing providers and even the Queensland Government is feeling the pressure of the construction industry and supply chain constraints,” she said.

“And as with all of these projects, they also need relevant approvals. What’s important is the investment is there.

“No one’s immune from the construction challenges, and right now what I can say is the Queensland Government money is on the table.

“We are working as hard as possible to get a construction workforce and to make sure we deliver these homes.

“The only thing I hear from my opponents is whingeing and whining with no solutions, and these are the very people who cut those very same programs when they were last in office.”

Minister Scanlon’s office later confirmed the Ethel Street project would be complete in the third quarter of 2024.