Opinion: Qld housing crisis has no quick fixes

It is going to take a whole range of short, medium and long-term solutions to fix Queensland’s housing crisis, writes Jen Williams.

It’s been a big few weeks for housing. First, a Housing Roundtable. Then, the Queensland Housing Summit. And now, a National Housing Accord.

With research released by the Property Council last month revealing the pace of interstate migration into Queensland is showing no signs of slowing down, this couldn’t come sooner.

Queensland isn’t alone in facing an undersupply of housing – but, given our state’s incredible growth trajectory, there is significantly greater pressure on this state to deliver more (and more diverse) homes sooner.

The Queensland Housing Summit was a very welcome step in addressing the state’s housing crisis. There was widespread acknowledgment that availability of housing (rather than affordability) is now the biggest issue.

Right across the housing continuum, from crisis accommodation through to private home ownership, the supply of housing in cities and regions across Queensland has failed to keep pace with demand.

As a stakeholder at the Housing Summit, this alignment of thinking was welcome.

It was widely acknowledged that everyone – public, private, not-for-profit, community or business – have a stake in getting this right.

It was agreed that the shortage of housing is not an issue that emerged overnight, and as such, there are no “quick fixes” that will see the problem disappear overnight.

It is going to take a whole range of short, medium and long-term solutions to fix this crisis, along with significant funding, bold decision-making, and a willingness to challenge some sacred cows along the way.

So far, there have been a handful of welcome announcements from the Queensland government that have started the wheels turning.

When the outcomes report from the summit is tabled in Parliament in November, it is crucial that it looks beyond social housing, to how we can unlock activity across the private sector, which accounts for around 97 per cent of housing in Queensland.

The National Housing Accord announced through the federal budget must not be seen as a reason to delay bold decisions.

Combined with a new supply council, a revised funding facility and agreements with the states and territories, the Accord could be a long-term gamechanger… but it is not scheduled to take effect until 2024.

The Housing Summit reinforced we have reached crisis point.

And as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said in her opening remarks, families out there are counting on us.

Jen Williams is Queensland executive director of the Property Council of Australia

Originally published as Opinion: Qld housing crisis has no quick fixes