Difference between Labor and LNP’s housing policies

An economist in the housing industry has said there’s ‘no quick fix’ when it comes to the state’s housing crisis.

Both major parties aim to increase housing stock, but Housing Industry Association’s North Queensland regional executive director Peter Fry said finding tradespeople was a problem with no easy solution.

The key difference between major parties’ housing plans is that Labor would put an emphasis on affordable social housing, while the LNP’s policies would cater to the average working newcomer trying to own their first home.

This is according to Housing Industry Association’s regional executive director Peter Fry, who spoke about the housing crisis at an LNP press conference at a Rosslea housing estate on Monday.

Mr Fry said all levels of government needed to work together to create cheaper home loans and reduce bureaucratic costs and taxation to encourage newcomers to the housing market.

He agreed with the LNP’s proposed $165m shared equity scheme to financially help with the deposits for up to 1000 homes, and said it was something considered in other states.

“I think there’s an opportunity for government to be able to do it, it’s just a matter of how and when,” he said.

Housing Industry Association's Peter Fry said about 1000 houses should be being built in Townsville annually.

“Many many years ago into the social housing side we used to have that...so there’s an opportunity now to come back into that to provide that support, whether it be through government or whether it be the financial sector.

“I think the financial sector can stand up and start looking at how they can support people with home loans.”

One of the obstacles in building houses was in increasing the number of builders and tradespeople to meet demand.

“Look, there’s no quick fix, that’s the problem with housing,” Mr Fry said.

“It’s a four year apprenticeship before they get into their trade.

“Many years ago we used to focus on people going to university, now, we need to focus on people getting trades.

“We need to start looking at how we can bring quicker skilled labor into Australia that will allow us to bring more trades into our region.”

Last week following the release of the state budget, opposition leader David Crisafulli emphasised on a housing platform that involved building one million homes in 20 years.

He also offered to raise the stamp duty concession up to $800,000, and to cut restrictions to rent out rooms to recipients of first home buyers grants.

The Queensland Government emphasised its $3.1bn Homes for Queenslanders plan which included building 53,500 new social homes in 22 years, and to pass on its excess land to developers to use, in return that it eventually be returned for social homes.

In the state budget the government also budgeted $500,000 to start off the Townsville North Rail Yards housing project with another $35m set aside with conditions.

Originally published as Difference between Labor and LNP’s housing policies