• The State Budget will focus on cost of living, with a record-breaking investment in social and affordable housing
• This includes $322 million to build an additional 500 new social housing homes
• It also delivers significant investments in emergency accommodation and homelessness support.

The Palaszczuk Government is investing $5 billion for the delivery of social and affordable housing, and housing and homelessness supports. This is comprised of $3 billion to support the Housing and Homelessness Action Plan 2021-2025 and a $2 billion investment for the Housing Investment Fund.

It is the largest concentrated investment in Queensland’s history, and includes:

• $322 million to expand the Quickstarts Queensland social housing construction program by an additional 500 homes.
• $249.1 million to retain and upgrade dwellings for social housing
• An average $130 million every year from the $2 billion Housing Investment Fund, that will be invested in affordable and social housing outcomes.

$64.3 million is being allocated to purchase, lease and operate emergency supported accommodation in Brisbane.

$28 million will be directed to the Immediate Housing Response Package in 2023-24 to provide emergency accommodation for families living in insecure and unsafe conditions and rental support to help people maintain tenancies.

While $13.9 million will go towards on-site support at three former retirement villages turned into emergency accommodation in Redlands, Toowoomba and Clayfield.

More than $128 million has been committed to improve housing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples including dedicated funding to roll out the second First Nations Housing Action Plan and funding to deliver housing supply in Queensland’s 17 remote and discrete communities.

The Helping Seniors Secure Their Homes initiative will be expanded to include the greater Cairns region and Toowoomba. This initiative will be backed by $30 million in funding.

It adds to a number of initiatives already being implemented including the Built to Rent program, investing in community housing organisations, rental grants and bond loans, headleasing and building government employee housing.

Quotes attributable to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk:

“This is a government and budget that’s focused on tackling the impacts of national cost-of-living and housing pressures.

“We’re pulling every lever possible to ensure Queenslanders have a roof over their head.”

Quotes attributable to Treasurer Cameron Dick:

“Right across the country, what we’re seeing is housing pressures having an impact, including in Queensland.

“That’s why this Budget is locking in even more funding for social and affordable housing, and sees us continue our work with the private sector, community housing organisations, and financial institutions to build, buy or lease more homes for Queenslanders.

“Queensland’s strong economic performance means we can continue to build on our record investment in housing.”

Quotes attributable to Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon:

“Every Queenslander deserves a safe and secure roof over their head.

“Our Government is focused on delivering a big housing build with more than 600 homes under construction right now.

“This Budget will build on our 74,000 existing social houses – places that thousands of Queensland families already call home.

“Because a home isn’t just some walls and a roof, it’s where you can get a head start on a good job, education or access to healthcare. 

“This is a budget that builds on our record to help even more Queenslanders.”

ENDS

Media contact: Francis Dela Cruz – 0420 592 078