Bundaberg and Burnett residents are crying out for help with the housing crisis continuing to hit the region hard.
Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett said the situation is desperate.
“Queensland’s waiting list for social housing has exploded by nearly 80% in the last four years,” he said. *
“In June 2021, there were almost 600 people in the Bundaberg and Burnett electorates on the very high need waitlist for housing according to the latest public data. **
“This list has an average wait time of almost two years in our region!
“That was 12 months ago, today the situation is so much worse.”
Mr Bennett said he’s urging the State Government to genuinely consider the findings of the Auditor-General’s report into social housing and take real action on the housing crisis across Queensland.
“At a time when families on dual incomes are forced to live in cars or tents, every suggestion to improve the situation must be taken on board,” he said.
“We haven’t built enough homes in Queensland to keep pace with our surging population and the recent budget doesn’t even start to address the issue.
“$42 million dollars has been allocated for social housing in the Wide Bay; that’s an area that spans from Winfield, out to Eidsvold, down to Kingaroy and back up to Gympie and Rainbow Beach.
“Of that $42 million, there’s only $13 million for construction costs.
“With the average cost of building a home around $500,000, $13 million would only build 26 homes.
“How will 26 homes even begin to meet demand, remembering there were 600 applications on the very high waitlist 12 months ago in JUST the Bundaberg area?”
Mr Bennett said it’s time for the State Government to start listening.
“People in Bundaberg and the Burnett are sick and tired of being told by Labor Members and Ministers ‘all is fine, just trust us’.
“The facts remain; doing the same failed thing repeatedly for the last seven years has resulted in the government creating a crisis of their own making.
“There are immediate steps the State Government could take to address the housing crisis in Queensland.
“Releasing land for freehold, affordable and social housing must be a priority.
“The LNP also believe that government must partner with, and unlock the Community Housing sector.
“These organisations are ready made to help house the vulnerable. If we empower them, and allow them to leverage housing stock, they can help put a roof over the head of vulnerable Queenslanders.”
ENDS.
19/07/2022