Hon. MAJ SCANLON (Gaven—ALP) (Minister for Housing, Local Government and Planning and Minister for Public Works) (9.50 am): Happy Women’s Week! The first night I was sworn into the role as Minister for Housing I joined Micah Projects, an organisation we provide funding to, to see the work they do in the darkest of hours to help those who are sleeping rough, particularly women and families in our community. In his first week after being sworn in, the Premier also joined our Critical Response Team to talk with people and hear their stories. It is where we met Munya, who was sleeping in a tent in Musgrave Park. He now has a permanent place to call home in Annerley. Last financial year our government provided $171 million to 90 homelessness services like Vinnies, Salvos and many more. This provided 1.6 million nights of accommodation for Queenslanders who are experiencing homelessness.
Our government is ensuring that health is available for people when they fall on hard times. Our Homes for Queenslanders plan not only provides the biggest investment in social housing but also boosts support to homelessness services. The sector asked for a 20 per cent uplift in funding; we have delivered that. I want to recognise the incredible women in particular who work in the community services space. They do amazing work every day to help those who are vulnerable. This is part of a $390 million shot in the arm to help Queenslanders who are doing it tough. It means more after-hours outreach services and more people working at the coalface. It means more emergency accommodation places across the state. We are rolling out our successful Critical Response Teams to Toowoomba, Gold Coast, Bundaberg, Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay, Logan, Ipswich and Redlands. The team in Brisbane has already been in place for less than a year and it has helped 460 people into accommodation. Some of these people were long-term rough sleepers who now have a permanent place to call home.
We have also partnered with the Brisbane Youth Service to purchase a new building in Fortitude Valley to create a one-stop shop for young people at risk of homelessness. They will be able to get wraparound support not just for housing but also for health, mental health, addiction and issues around domestic and family violence. Jess, who could not find accommodation and had $50 to her name for two weeks, was able to find a safe place to live and access to vital health services because of the support of this service. Shania, who linked up with another government funded service, in Community in Ipswich, was able to get accommodation and is now joining the Air Force. The member for Ipswich and our amazing candidate for Ipswich West, Wendy Bourne, visited Shania and inCommunity last week. We know that women are more likely to experience challenges to access housing. That is why we have launched our Homes for Queensland Plan so that every Queensland woman has a safe place to call home.
