Greater Whitsunday Housing Project calls for commitment on social housing build out

The treasurer is spending big money on social housing but advocates say the $1.1bn will be used to buy political influence in SEQ while the north is ‘neglected’.

The housing supply crisis escalating across the Greater Whitsundays received some reprieve in Treasurer Cameron Dick’s big spending budget, with a $1.1bn boost for social housing.

But Greater Whitsunday Housing Project advocate Tonia Wilson is concerned Central and North Queensland could still miss out in favour of the Southeast.

“It is only 500 more social homes per year in this budget,” she said.

“But there is no breakdown of where these homes are going to be built.

“Our concern is that it will be largely Southeast Queensland because that is where the bulk of the voters are.

“Our region has been neglected for the last decade and we would like some sort of commitment about what specifically is going to come to the regions.”

Greater Whitsunday Housing Project advocate Tonia Wilson. Picture: Contributed

About 50,000 Queenslanders are on a waiting list for social housing, some 1600 of them in Mackay, data from the Queensland Council of Social Services shows.

In his budget speech, Mr Dick highlighted population growth into Queensland since 2020 and the pressures of material and labour shortages caused by pandemic-related supply chain issues as key drivers for the tightening market.

“I am pleased to announce today an additional investment of $1.1bn into the housing portfolio,” he said.

“This investment will meet the higher costs of construction faced by the Queensland Government in delivering our housing building program.

“Anyone who pretends governments are immune from the rapid rise in construction costs that has affected the entire industry in Australia is economically naive, or seeks to deceive Queenslanders.”

QCOSS CEO Aimee McVeigh praised the boost in funding but said it would not make a significant impact on the crisis.

QCOSS CEO Aimee McVeigh speaks after a housing shortage roundtable discussion at parliament in Brisbane on March 28. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“Even with today’s commitment to build 500 new social houses, the current level of investment will not even maintain the status quo,” she said.

“Without a comprehensive plan to put a roof over the head of every Queenslander, the housing crisis will continue to get worse.”

Ms McVeigh wants social and affordable rental stock expanded by 11,000 dwellings each year.

“This target cannot be met by the state government alone,” she said.

“A plan must be developed to enable a combination of commonwealth and state government, not-for-profit and private sector investment, development, and management of social and affordable housing.”

Ms Wilson said the Greater Whitsunday project, which covers the Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday local government areas, would look to deliver long-term solutions to the shortages at a summit booked for August 15.

“There will be recommendations around things we can practically do,” she said.

“There will also be some advocacy things and tax reform will be one of those.”

Originally published as Greater Whitsunday Housing Project calls for commitment on social housing build out