QLD's social housing stock could increase by more than 53,000 homes
More than 53-thousand homes could be added to Queensland's social housing stock over the next two decades under a new target set by the state government.
Transcript
00:00 Demand is sky high for social housing like this on Brisbane's north side.
00:06 To keep up, the Premier has set a long-term public housing goal.
00:11 That research said that we needed 53,500 more by 2046 and so that is what our plan will
00:19 deliver.
00:20 The state government admits it's ambitious.
00:22 The target will be backed by $1.25 billion in funding and it will require more than 2,000
00:30 homes on average per year to be added to the state's social housing stock, which currently
00:35 includes about 75,000 properties.
00:39 We are the first state in the country to dare to make sure that we pick a target that is
00:44 in line with modelling and evidence.
00:47 The opposition reckons it's a tall order.
00:49 Over the last 10 years, they have built 0.6 houses per day and they now expect us to believe
00:58 they can multiply that by 10.
01:02 Tell them they're dreaming.
01:03 It's been 18 months since the Queensland government was criticised by the Auditor-General for
01:09 failing to forecast future demand for social housing.
01:13 Advocates have welcomed the long-term target but want to see more detail on how it will
01:19 be achieved.
01:21 And so this level of ambition is needed and now we need to see the plan that will ensure
01:26 that the ambition is realised.
01:28 The state's peak body for the construction industry has doubts too and says more tradies
01:33 and a reduction in red tape is needed.
01:36 We need additional skills, so we're short of tradies, we need more construction skills.
01:44 Queensland tell us we need around 18,000 each year.
01:48 There are challenges though in the construction market at the moment and so we will be acquiring
01:53 properties in the short term as well as building.
01:57 The Premier will unveil his new housing plan in full tomorrow.
02:01 [BLANK_AUDIO]