Bundaberg’s social housing waitlist has skyrocketed by 132% as the Queensland Housing Crisis deepens under Labor. *
The number of people on application for social housing in the Bundaberg region has increased by 500 people since 2017.
The new figures come after Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon was forced to release the overdue data, after being caught failing to deliver on a promise to update Queenslanders quarterly.
Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett said Bundaberg and Burnett residents deserve so much better.
“It’s only since Labor blew into Bundaberg in 2020 that we’ve seen dozens of families forced to live in tents and makeshift shelters in our parks and under bridges,” he said.
“The Palaszczuk Government’s big glossy announcements are clearly not delivering results.
“The chaos and crisis that has engulfed this Labor Government is affecting more Queenslanders every day.”
LNP Candidate for Bundaberg Bree Watson said it’s time for Labor to take real action and deliver for the people of Bundaberg.
“Under Labor’s chaos and crisis, the social housing waitlist continues to grow, and their broken promises are mounting,” she said.
“Labor’s failure to plan and deliver the social housing our region needs has led to the waitlist blowing out by 132% in seven years.
“That’s almost 80% higher than the state-wide increase and a low blow for Regional Queensland.
“In the middle of the Housing Crisis when Queenslanders don’t have a roof over their head, Labor’s chaos and crisis has cost Queenslanders the homes they need.”
As the only registered builder amongst Queensland MP’s, Burnett MP Stephen Bennett said that State Government needs to start listening to stakeholders and working with the private sector to fix the housing crisis.
“In a response to my question in parliament calling for a cost breakdown of the $1.3 million spent on two tiny homes in Bundaberg, Minister Scanlon again refused to answer,” he said.*
“This is arrogant and insulting to the 1,158 people living in Bundaberg without a home.
“Instead of making life harder for renters, an LNP Government will deliver the social and affordable housing Queensland needs, on-time and on-budget
“Labor’s $2 billion Housing Investment Fund still hasn’t built a single new home, after three years.
“Only the LNP has the Right Plan for Queensland’s Future and that includes securing our housing foundations.
“Homes with Purpose will unlock unused charity and church-owned land for social and community housing for our most vulnerable Queenslanders. It has the potential to deliver 10,000 homes by 2044.
“The LNP’s plan will unlock 53,500 new social homes over two decades.”
ENDS
| Social Housing Wait List – Bundaberg Housing Service Centre | |
| Quarter | People |
| Jun-17 | 658 |
| Mar-24 | 1,158 |
| # Change since 2017 | 500 |
| % Change since 2017 | 132 % |
* Source: https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/social-housing-register
** QON: https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableoffice/questionsanswers/2024/756-2024.pdf
22/07/2024