Free kindy, electricity rebates a winner but renters left in the cold

Free kindergarten and electricity rebates are a winner with Gold Coast single mum Lois Birch, but she worries not enough has been done to help renters left in the cold.

Single mother Lois Birch, 33, and her daughter Liri, 4, who live with her parents at mermaid Waters on the Gold Coast. Photo: Glenn Hunt / The Australian

Single mum Lois Birch says the Queensland government’s free kindy initiative a big win for those with little ones but wishes the state budget offered more support for renters.

The 33-year-old Gold Coast lawyer and teacher is living with her parents and daughter Liri, 4, in a home they rent together at Mermaid Waters as she saves for her own home.

While Liri will be headed to school next year when the free kindergarten measure is introduced from January 1, her cousins will have access to 15 hours of classroom time each week. “I was stoked with that one,” Ms Birch said.

“I’m a single mum and for a lot of single working people it definitely makes it a lot easier.”

Electricity rebates of $550 were also given a tick. But Ms Birch was disappointed the budget didn’t offer immediate relief for renters, despite the government bolstering its social and ­affordable housing commitments by $1.1bn over the coming five years, taking the total spend to $5bn.

“The rental cap was the biggest thing I wanted,” she said. “Maybe they need to be considering it in the future, but at least they’re making steps (to help) some ­people.”

Housing supply was the bigger issue, said Treasurer ­Cameron Dick, but conceded no amount of money could speed up the delivery of more homes. “Housing construction is at capacity, that’s just the truth,” he said.

“It’s not a matter of finance, it’s actually a matter of being able to build those homes, and so we’ve invested $1.1bn in this budget ­additionally into housing to sustain the supply and delivery of houses for Queenslanders.”

The boost to social housing will largely help cover the ­increases in construction costs and ensure the delivery of ­promised projects. Mr Dick said the government was also looking at “different mechanisms and measures” to provide more housing, including leasing and the purchase of homes used in the federal governments soon to be wrapped up ­National Rental ­Affordability Scheme.

Transfer duty revenue from property purchases accounted for nearly a quarter of state revenue despite falling from the previous financial year when the market was booming.

Concessions for developers delivering build-to-rent projects with affordable housing will kick in from July 1.