Ambitious strategy to house Queenslanders

MORE than 5000 social housing homes will be built in Queensland over the next decade under an ambitious strategy to be unveiled today by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

The $1.5 billion plan would create 4000 jobs during the massive decade-long building spree and tackle Queensland’s 26,000-strong social housing waiting list. The Government will seek to partner with the private sector and aim to target vacant and underused properties already owned by the state as development sites.

The plan will be welcomed by the construction sector, with dwelling and renovation activity recording sharp falls in the latest quarterly statistics, down 4 per cent and 5.2 per cent respectively.

Ms Palaszczuk last night said the strategy would be “front-ended” with more than 3000 homes, to be built in the first five years.

This compares with the 570 social housing homes built by the Government during the past two years.

“Housing is fundamentally about people, and this investment puts people first,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“Secure housing enables young people to finish their education and provides the stability that keeps families together.”

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has warned that the state won’t be able to afford to build vital new dams for regional Queensland if the Palaszczuk Government goes on another Budget raid of its water profits.

Federal Water Resources Minister Barnaby Joyce says he fears Treasurer and Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt will again strip SunWater dry of its profits after last year pulling $159 million from the government-owned corporation.

He last night called on Ms Palaszczuk to guarantee another raid wouldn’t happen in tomorrow’s Budget and the money would be set aside for job-creating water infrastructure in the regions.

SECURE HOUSING ENABLES YOUNG PEOPLE TO FINISH THEIR EDUCATION AND PROVIDES THE STABILITY THAT KEEPS FAMILIES TOGETHER