Hon. MAJ SCANLON (Gaven—ALP) (Minister for Housing) (10.02 am): I stand here today as
Queensland’s new housing minister, acknowledging the enormity and responsibility of this role. Our
government knows how important it is to have a roof over your head—for education, for employment
and for a child’s future. I am the beneficiary of having two parents who lived in government housing. In
my time in this place I have heard from people across our community about their own housing stories.
I have sat down with Carmel and Kay, both social housing tenants on the street down the road from
where I went to kindy. I have heard from Gary, who has recently moved into a newly built social home
in Varsity Lakes, from young renters and from owners feeling the pinch of interest rate rises on their
family home. These are the people I will be working hard for every day.

Queensland is, of course, the most beautiful place to live. A lot of people have moved here over
the past few years, and who can blame them? Interstate migration coupled with the impacts of natural
disasters, the RBA’s continued interest rate rises and the significant supply chain issues being felt
across this country have made conditions tough. To build thousands of new social and affordable
homes, we cannot leave any stone unturned.

My message to industry, members opposite, community housing providers, tenants groups and
First Nations communities is that my door is open. I will work with anyone who has innovative ideas,
and I will be focused on rolling out our record investment in social and affordable housing—13,000 new
homes. Our government already has a very proud track record of delivering 4,400 additional social and
affordable homes across Queensland, and right now 647 homes are under construction. That is, on
average, 10 homes a week built since we were elected. Yesterday we announced nearly 30 new
potential sites to build more housing and increase supply.

I know that Queenslanders are struggling, and I am ready to hit the ground running for them. I
have been boots on the ground with Micah Projects, and I have seen how they are supporting the most
vulnerable people in our community. I visited the construction site of the former Yeronga TAFE, where
75 new social and affordable homes will be delivered. I have spoken to the new federal housing minister
about how we can get the best deal for Queensland. My commitment is: that is what I will do every
single day.

To see the speech, click here: https://tv.parliament.qld.gov.au/?reference=0Mba20230523_100136