Problem with numbers: Premier rejects call on wait list

The Premier has failed to say how many households she would like to see on the social housing wait list in 2027, amid further criticism not enough is being done to stem the housing crisis.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has failed to say how many households she would like to see on the social housing wait list in 2027, amid further criticism that her government was not doing enough to stem the housing crisis.

The government came under fire in parliament on Thursday after revelations that an inner-city apartment complex in Brisbane was being sold.

But Ms Palaszczuk said she would not be lectured to by the opposition.

Housing Minister Leeanne Enoch insisted the government was “exceeding” its social housing plan.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Asked her target for the number of households on the waiting list by the end of the Queensland Housing Strategy in 2027, Ms Palaszczuk did not say. She instead slammed the LNP, saying it had wanted to privatise 90 per cent of social housing.

“The government is considering the Auditor-General’s report ... but the Leader of the Opposition should also be aware that 5 per cent of the market is social housing and affordable; the big issue is the 95 per cent, which is the private rental market,” she said.

“We acknowledge that there is housing stress.”

Pressed further, Ms Palaszczuk said her government’s target was to “continue to grow the amount of social housing”.

Ms Enoch was also unable to say how many social housing properties the government would need to build over the next five years to ensure Queenslanders who were deemed very high-need had somewhere to live.

It was revealed this week that Brisbane Housing Company, which is partly owned by the government and Brisbane City Council, was selling an apartment complex in Kelvin Grove. Ms Enoch slammed the decision, while former Labor housing minister Robert Schwarten called for a parliamentary inquiry into BHC.

A senior Labor Party source on Wednesday said the decision had “caused a lot of consternation” among party members, “who’ve seen Labor traditionally being the champion of public housing”.

But BHC said proceeds of the sale would be used to build 110 units in the city that would be ready by March next year.

Ms Enoch said she and Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner had agreed to “look into” how BHC engaged with the council and the state government.

Originally published as Problem with numbers: Premier rejects call on wait list