Qld advocates call for greater share of $2bn federal payments
Queensland’s surging homeless rate and rising population mean the state deserves a greater share of federal funding to build new public housing, a leading advocate says.
QLD Politics
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Queensland deserves a greater share of Anthony Albanese’s cash splash for social housing given the state’s “unique” housing crisis and soaring homeless rate, according to a leading advocate.
The Prime Minister confirmed on Sunday the $2bn social housing accelerator payments would be divided between the states and territories on a per capita basis.
This means Queensland, where the homeless rate surged by 22 per cent since 2017 compared to the national rise of 8 per cent, will be given access to nearly $400m while NSW and Victoria will be allocated $610m and nearly $500m respectively.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles acknowledged the unique challenges to the supply of housing in Queensland, including the state’s rapidly increasing population, and said “certainly we would appreciate more” funds.
“In previous rounds of social housing funding, NSW and Victoria have gotten more than their fair share and so, given the current circumstances, Queensland really does need to catch up,” he said.
Queensland Council of Social Service chief executive Aimee McVeigh said the entire country was experiencing housing pressures but stressed “unique factors” left the state worse off than others.
“We are the epicentre of the housing crisis and that is because of our growing population and the interstate migration that we experienced,” she said.
“Homelessness services are experiencing pressure in Queensland that is much more acute than across the country and our rent increases are also really significant.”
Meanwhile, the Albanese government’s centrepiece housing policy was again put on ice after the Greens and the Coalition combined for a second time to postpone voting on the $10bn Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) legislation in the Senate until October 16.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young moved a motion in the upper house on Monday to postpone the vote until after the next national cabinet meeting – due to be held in the middle of the year – as they ramp up the pressure on Mr Albanese to co-ordinate a rent freeze with state and territory leaders.
“We know that the pressure that Australians in rental accommodation are feeling is extraordinary – you hear the stories every day,” Senator Hanson-Young told parliament.
“Our offices are inundated every day. They want us to act.
“If Labor acts on soaring rents at national cabinet, this Bill can pass.
“But until then, what we’re seeing is stubbornness and refusal to act.”
Federal Housing Minister Julie Collins described the HAFF as a “secure, ongoing pipeline of funding” for social and affordable rental homes and warned postponing the policy would come at a cost.
“If this Bill gets delayed until October, the Greens political party and the Liberals would have succeeded in delaying it for more than six months,” Ms Collins said.
“Every six months is $250m that could have gone to building more homes.”
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