‘Tooth and nail’: Senator vows to fight for Cairns’ share of housing under new scheme

The Albanese Government has announced a $10b investment to build 100,000 homes across Australia, with Senator Nita Green saying she will fight ‘tooth and nail’ for Cairns’ fair share.

Senator Nita Green, ALP candidate Matt Smith and Deputy PM Richard Marles visiting the construction site of a social housing project in Woree on Wednesday, April 16. Picture: Molly Frew

The Albanese Government has announced a $10b investment to build 100,000 homes across Australia, with Senator Nita Green saying she will fight “tooth and nail” for Cairns’ fair share.

The move, which will see the homes built over the next eight years, will be available exclusively to first home buyers in an attempt to ease their entry into the housing market.

“This is a really important initiative,” Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said in Cairns on Wednesday.

“So when (first home buyers) are out there buying those homes, they are not competing with those who are engaging in property investment or buying second homes.”

Mr Marles said the federal government would liaise with state governments as where to homes would be built, but Senator Nita Green said herself and ALP candidate Matt Smith would fight for Cairns’ share of the homes.

“Of course Matt and I as representatives here in Far North Queensland and regional Queensland will fight tooth and nail to make sure as many of those houses are built here,” she said.

“We’re going to work with developers and the state government … and I know that they will see the opportunity here in places like Cairns and throughout regional Queensland to build more homes.”

Ms Green, Mr Marles and Mr Smith chatting to a worker at the construction site. Picture: Molly Frew

The policy announcement was coupled with the expansion of the existing First Home Guarantee initiative, which will allow all first home buyers to buy a home with a deposit as little as 5 per cent and without paying mortgage insurance.

The initiative was previously only available to certain first home buyers under a specific income threshold.

“This is the only policy that addresses both supply and demand,” ALP Leichhardt candidate Matt Smith said.

“For an average house in Cairns, around $500,000, that’s a $20,000 deposit that would be required. This is going to give people a foothold into the housing market.”

The Home Guarantee Scheme, which incorporates the First Home Guarantee as well as the scheme’s regional and family divisions, has helped more than 1200 Cairns residents into home ownership.

“Cairns is one of the largest places for uptake, (and) we know that regional Queensland has taken up this opportunity more than any other part of the country, which is fantastic,” Ms Green said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visiting Green Island with Mark Olsen, Ms Green and Ms Green last week. Picture: Jason Edwards / NewsWire

Mr Marles met Ms Green and Mr Smith at the construction site of a housing project in Woree, the biggest project of its kind in Queensland’s history — 490 social and affordable homes are currently being built on the land of the old Woree drive-in cinema on the Bruce Highway.

The complex will contain 245 social homes, 223 affordable homes and 22 specialist disability apartments, and are geared towards older residents ready to downsize.

“These homes will be built … for people who want to downsize from their existing homes, which will in turn free large homes up for families here in the Cairns region,” Mr Marles said.

The project is a part of the federal Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) and is being funded by the state and federal governments.

Mr Marles said 28,000 social and affordable houses were currently in construction nationwide under the HAFF, and the scheme has built 400,000 homes in the past three years.

The Woree complex is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

Originally published as ‘Tooth and nail’: Senator vows to fight for Cairns’ share of housing under new scheme