‘Doesn’t make sense’: Qld misses out on vital social housing funding

Queensland received just 10 per cent of the Federal Government’s $9.2bn social housing fund, enough to build just 1315 homes, despite a ballooning population and a deepening housing crisis.

Queensland received just 10 per cent of the $9bn allocated in the federal government’s latest round of housing funding, sparking fury from the state’s peak body for social housing.

Round one of the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) was released this week, approving 185 projects across the country that are expected to deliver 13,742 social and affordable homes.

It can be revealed that figures provided to the Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA) by Housing Australia show Queensland received funding approval for just 1315 dwellings – 10 per cent of the total allocation.

The $9.2bn funding pool was split between each jurisdiction, with Victoria, NSW and Western Australia dwarfing projects approved in Queensland.

Victoria, which saw the lion’s share of round one, will receive 4135 homes, while NSW will get 3266 and Western Australia 2787.

Housing advocacy body Q Shelter revealed state providers had bid for more than 4000 dwellings but received just one quarter, despite the state being home to 20 per cent of the population.

Q Shelter chief executive Fiona Caniglia said the funding disparity was disappointing.

“This result doesn’t make much sense in the face of evident need and huge population growth,” she said.

“While Housing Australia will have considered various factors to determine outcomes for round one of the HAFF, it’s hard not to think Queensland has fared poorly.”

More than 50,000 applications were made to the HAFF before the tender process closed in March.

In a statement earlier this week, Housing Australia chair Carol Austin said the organisation would help providers prioritise projects ahead of the second funding round.

A total of 1267 homes across the country will be dedicated to women and children escaping domestic violence and older women at risk of homelessness.

Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon said while she welcomed the HAFF funding, she would have liked to see more.

“And that’s what we’ve made clear to the federal government,” she said.

“What I would say though, to anyone out there who’s criticising these numbers … those numbers would be much smaller under the LNP because Peter Dutton has said he will axe that fund.”

Q Shelter is calling on both sides of government to commit to a 2046 community housing road map ahead of the October election.

“It will identify the required size and scale of community housing in Queensland and provide a strategic growth plan to achieve those objectives,” Ms Caniglia said. “Additionally, it will ensure that Queensland secures its fair share from programs like HAFF and future funding rounds.”

The state government has committed to building one million new homes, including 55,500 social and affordable homes, by 2046.

Breakdown:

VIC: 4,135

NSW: 3,266

WA: 2,787

QLD: 1,315

SA: 893

ACT: 757

TAS: 479

NT: 110

Australia: 13,742