Productivity Commission figures show Qld spending less than other states on social housing

Productivity Commission figures show Queensland’s social housing spending is dramatically lower than any other state or territory, with the Opposition seizing on the data as proof the Palaszczuk Government isn’t doing enough to help our most vulnerable.

Queensland has spent less on social housing per capita than any other state or territory, new Productivity Commission figures reveal.

In 2020-21 the Queensland Government spent $121.40 per person on social housing, well below the national average of $174.73, according to the Commonwealth’s data.

Queensland’s low expenditure compares to $134 per capita in Victoria, $172 in New South Wales and $220 in Western Australia.

Tasmania spent $311 per person while the Northern Territory topped the national spend at a staggering $869.

The Productivity Commission notes the data might not capture the full extent of expenditure in a state or territory.

It was also captured prior to last year’s state budget when the government revealed it would invest $1.9bn in social and affordable housing over four years.

However, the state’s slow construction and delivery of new social and public housing has drawn criticism from advocates including the Queensland Council of Social Services, which noted there were more than 50,000 people on the social housing list.

The Real Estate Institute of Queensland is also concerned wafer-thin vacancy rates could reduce even further.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli says the figures were proof the Palaszczuk Government wasn’t doing enough to help vulnerable Queenslanders. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli seized on the figures and said vulnerable Queenslanders were struggling to put a roof over their heads.

“The under investment in social housing is squeezing more people into a rental market where demand is outstripping supply,” he said.

“The state government must properly plan and deliver infrastructure to enable consistent land supply and to work with the public and private sector to develop social and affordable housing for struggling Queenslanders.”

A spokeswoman for the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy insisted the government was on target to start building 727 homes by the end of the month as part of a $2.9bn social and affordable housing strategy.

“This will increase the social and affordable housing supply across Queensland, including funding construction of 6365 new social homes which will be commenced by 30 June 2025,” the spokeswoman said.

She said the cost of labour and materials had increased, which coupled with the floods had flow-on effects across the building industry.

Treasurer Cameron Dick this week would not pre-empt whether any injection to social housing would be contained within the Queensland Budget on June 21, but said last year’s budget already contained the “single greatest concentration of funding for housing in recent memory”.

Mr Dick said the government had pledged a $1.9bn investment for social and affordable housing as he acknowledged problems with housing supply had been “an unanticipated challenge” out of Covid.

Originally published as Productivity Commission figures show Qld spending less than other states on social housing