Qld election: Cameron Dick admits state not ready for population explosion

Cameron Dick has admitted during Thursday’s Deputy Leaders’ debate that the state’s population explosion caught the state by surprise, impacting on housing policy. WATCH THE REPLAY

The Labor government admits it was unprepared for the population spike that has wreaked havoc on the state’s housing supply, with Deputy Premier Cameron Dick blaming incorrect federal estimates for the shortfall.

Mr Dick faced questions from undecided voters at The Courier-Mail’s Deputy Leaders Debate - which Deputy Opposition leader Jarrod Bleijie refused to attend.

WATCH THE REPLAY IN THE PLAYER ABOVE

Responding to a question from The Courier-Mail’s Voter Verdict panellist Kimberley Lusk on whether the government would address massive rental price hikes, Mr Dick said the housing crisis was one of the most important issues facing the state.

Deputy Premier and Treasurer Cameron Dick with The Courier-Mail’s state political editor Hayden Johnson. Picture: Richard Walker

“We have thought very deeply about this, and it’s something I see every day in my electorate in Woodridge,” he said.

“It’s often not a finance issue for me as the treasurer, if I could put more money into it, I would, the issue is the construction and supply of homes.”

When questioned about what responsibility the government would take for not being prepared for the influx of people, Mr Dick said forecasting data from the federal government underestimated Queensland’s population growth.

“We relied on that,” he said. “And so in the period since COVID, we’ve had a population come to Queensland about 135,000 people.

“That’s a city the size of Mackay that turned up in Queensland over three years that we didn’t foresee, and that was unforeseeable because we didn’t have that data. I’m not saying that we don’t take responsibility for that population growth. On balance, I’d rather it be a growth state than a state whose population is shrinking or going backwards.”

He said growth was positive but it increased pressures on Queensland including with housing.

“That’s why we’ve acted, to look at those issues, to redouble our efforts.,” he said.

Throughout the deputy leaders debate Mr Dick was quizzed on how the ALP would pay for its election promises including 50 cent fares and free lunches.

Cameron Dick meets voters following the debate. Picture: Richard Walker

When asked about the government’s plan for Brisbane 2032, Mr Dick doubled down on the government’s decision to use the Queensland Sports and Athletic Centre to ensure the event stayed on budget.

Noticeably absent from the panel was Mr Bleijie. During Mr Dick’s opening speech he said the world was run by people who turn up.

“I think it says a lot about the LNP that they don’t want to bother to be part of this,” he said.

“I think personally, I think it’s a little bit arrogant and I also think it’s a little bit contemptuous.

And it’s not just Jarrod Bleijie, this is a decision on the leader as well, I’m a deputy and I often do things for Steven because he can’t be in more than one place at one time.

“So deputies have to do what leaders ask them to do to support the team. And so the leaders made a decision, David Crisafulli, not to be part of this as well, and I don’t think that’s respectful to the process or respectful to Queenslanders.”

Multiple people in the voter verdict panel told The Courier-Mail they were disappointed by the LNP’s decision to not send their deputy leader.

“For a political party that’s trying to get into power, they should be bending over backwards. They should be making time,” Claire Wright said.

Cameron Dick with a cardboard cut-out of Jarrod Bleijie. Picture: Richard Walker

“We’ve got teams, we’ve got zoom, we’ve got mobile phones that we’ve been using for years. Why didn’t he stop whatever he’s doing? What is so much more important than that?”

Gail McIntyre said Mr Dick spoke well and was confident.

“For me, it was disappointing that there was no other side, no refuting what he had to say, or giving the LNP side of that,” she said.

“So it’s really easy to be impressed with someone who has no opposition during a debate. I thought that his answers to our questions were measured and quite honest.

Sarah Curry felt like Mr Dick gave great answers.

“But I don’t know where Jarrod stands on it, so it’s easy to be swayed more to the Labor side because Jarrod couldn’t be bothered to turn up,” she said.

Originally published as Qld election: Cameron Dick admits state not ready for population explosion