A new Bill aims to give more Queenslanders a place to call home. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
The Queensland Government has introduced legislation to support its $3.1 billion Homes for Queenslanders plan, to help ensure every Queenslander has a safe, secure, and affordable place to call home.
It claims the Bill will help deliver an additional 1300 dwellings over the next five years, as well as approve a further 15,000 homes in Priority Development Areas (PDAs) – which is more than double the number currently achievable.
“Under the most ambitious housing policy in Queensland’s history we will reshape Economic Development Queensland, the government’s land use planning and property development agency,” Minister for State Development and Infrastructure, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Racing Grace Grace said.
“This builds on two key pillars of our Homes for Queenslanders plan: building more homes faster and boosting our social housing Big Build.
“Our government has delivered 10 new homes each week since we were elected in 2015, but this legislation will help us do even more.
“The legislation will help meet the Homes for Queenslanders’ target of one million new homes by 2046 and contribute to the Federal Government’s National Housing Accord target of 1.2 million new, well-located homes across Australia by 2029.”
Amendments to the Economic Development Act 2012 will:
- Provide EDQ with a clearer mission, incorporating social and affordable housing into EDQ’s main purpose
- Coordinate approaches to ensure liveability with the introduction of “Place Renewal Areas”
- Align to Queensland’s Big Build.
“Just as the factors driving the housing challenges are complex, there is no one single simple solution,” Ms Grace said. “All levels of government have a role to play so that every Queenslander has a safe, secure, and affordable place to call home.
“The Miles Government is committed to using every lever at our disposal, every tool that we can, everything in our power to make that happen.
“This Bill directly supports two of the key pillars in our Homes for Queenslanders plan – to build more homes faster, and to boost our social housing Big Build.”
Chair of the Housing Supply Expert Panel, Julie Saunders welcomed the move.
“Many Queenslanders are doing it tough, struggling to find affordable homes that are well-located with jobs and services nearby,” she said.
“I’m pleased to see the State Government taking legislative action to facilitate more housing, particularly more social and affordable housing.
“The housing puzzle is really complex, and there are many layers to it – it’s great to see the Queensland Government continuing to develop and implement policies to address these challenges.”
