Local councils across Queensland have long demonstrated a commitment to improve the housing situation for vulnerable people in their communities. In the context of the state’s current housing "crisis", it is important that local governments continue to play an active role in improving housing outcomes for affected population groups.
Breaking Ground is a ‘one year on’ progress report of the 2023 landmark report, A Blueprint for tackling Queensland’s housing crisis. It was the first of its kind in Australia to outline a comprehensive, evidence-based reform package to tackle the housing crisis at a state level.
Systemic change through both legislative and service delivery reform is required to ensure people living in supported accommodation have access to safe, secure, and affordable housing that respects people’s rights and is appropriate for people’s needs.
Immediate action, as well as a comprehensive long-term plan, are required to address the housing crisis in Queensland. QCOSS welcomes the federal government's commitment to developing a Plan to address housing challenges, which must be a whole government plan and set an ambitious goal of ending housing need in Australia within a decade.
QCOSS welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback about the Bill and the Queensland Government’s commitment to making amendments to the Planning Act 2017 to include a state-facilitated application process to streamline the assessment of development applications to the extent that it will accelerate the delivery of social and affordable housing.
There are around 150,000 households across Queensland with unmet housing needs. These households are either experiencing homelessness, or are low-income households in private rentals, paying more than 30 per cent of household income in rent.
