Housing Minister Sam O’Connor and Opposition housing spokeswoman Meaghan Scanlon trade barbs over social housing

Homes earmarked for social housing in Townsville are no longer eligible to be used after the state government changed legislation. See the full details.

Shadow Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon in Townsville. Picture: Nikita McGuire

Homes earmarked for social housing in Townsville are no longer eligible to be used after the state government changed legislation.

The homes, which were purchased by the former state government as part of the National Rental Affordability Scheme, were used as subsidised housing for workers.

Opposition housing spokeswoman Meaghan Scanlon says the government has chosen not to buy up existing housing to address the issue.

But Housing Minister Sam O’Connor says the previous government left social housing across the state, particularly in Townsville, a “mess”.

The former government was criticised heavily for not acting fast enough on social housing, but it did invest in numerous initiatives including 24 new units in Rasmussen and earmarking land in Pimlico for a Ground Lease Model which makes it easier for developers to build affordable stock.

Ms Scanlon was in Townsville to visit homes that were formerly part of the National Rental Affordability Scheme.

“We made the decision to purchase these houses because we know there are Queenslanders who need that help now and those homes exiting the scheme mean those people would have just been subject to the private market,” she said.

Shadow Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon in Townsville. Picture: Nikita McGuire

“We are disappointed that the new Crisafulli government has chosen to take a deliberate policy decision not to purchase any stock …”

“It doesn’t make sense to me that you would refuse to look at any options of houses that might come on the market.”

Ms Scanlon said the latest data shows there are 2000 applicants waiting for social housing and that without government investments it is “just impossible” for some people to break into the market”.

“We know that there are vacant properties that could be purchased by the government and they’ve made a decision not to do that, and that means that people are waiting for longer to get into social housing,” she said.

Mr O’Connor hit back saying buying existing homes was “taking stock out of the market and adding pressure“ to an already strained housing system, while community housing providers were held back by “outdated policies”.

Minister for Housing and Public Works Sam O'Connor with Townsville MPs Adam Baillie, Natalie Marr and Janelle Poole. Picture: Nikita McGuire

“We’re getting on with the job — with almost 5000 social and affordable homes in contract or under construction — ten times the amount Labor delivered over the past decade,” he said.

Mr O’Connor said the Crisafulli Government have delivered a Master Agreement to “unleash” the community housing providers to help them deliver more places for Queenslanders to call home.

Originally published as Housing Minister Sam O’Connor and Opposition housing spokeswoman Meaghan Scanlon trade barbs over social housing