Homes for Queenslanders: New social homes in heritage city

• Building begins on seven new social homes in Maryborough
• Part of Miles Government’s Homes for Queenslanders plan to deliver one million more homes including 53,500 social homes
• Funding via Albanese Federal Government’s Social Housing Accelerator
• Come as LNP threaten to cut $15.5 billion in Federal housing funding

Tradies are on the tools building seven new homes in the heritage city as the Miles Government delivers its Homes for Queenslanders plan.

Located on the site of a disused retail space, Queensland company New State Builders have been engaged to deliver the collection of one and two-bedroom homes.

The homes are aimed at single people, couples, people with disability and older Queenslanders looking to downsize from their current social home – freeing up larger social homes for families.

Two of the homes will be designed to Gold Level under the Social Housing Design Guidelines, making them accessible for people with a disability and seniors with mobility needs.

The Albanese Federal Government is investing $3.5 million in the project through its $2 billion Social Housing Accelerator.

Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon says federal funding is critical to the state rolling out its Homes for Queenslanders plan, and that this week’s announcement by the LNP to cut $100 billion put thousands of homes in the state at risk.

It was revealed the LNP’s cuts include taking an axe to the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund and $5.5 billion Help to Buy scheme.

The threat to cut the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund means 30,000 social and affordable homes are in jeopardy of never being built, including thousands slated for Queensland.

Additionally, flagged cuts to the $5.5 billion Help to Buy scheme means more than 8,000 Queenslanders are set to lose out on the opportunity for home ownership.

Minister Scanlon has called out Peter Dutton and the LNP for their $100 billion razor gang, and called on David Crisafulli to join the government in renouncing the cuts to Queensland homes.

Quotes attributable to Member for Maryborough Bruce Saunders:

“It’s the Miles Government that has been doing what matters for Maryborough – with $1,000 off power bills, 20 per cent off car rego and building more homes locally.

“When I say I’m putting the Maryborough electorate first that means fighting for more homes to be built – because it’s what matters to our community - and I’m excited to see another project get shovels in the ground.

“Unlike other the LNP MPs in our region who say this government building homes is ‘too much’ and actively vote against them, I’ll always advocate for more to be built.”

Quotes attributable to Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon:

“We’re getting more shovels in the ground and tradies on the tools to build the one million homes Queenslanders need, like here in Maryborough.

“Queensland has been one of only two states to increase both public and community housing in the last decade, and Queenslanders are seeing us deliver even more through our Homes for Queenslanders plan.

“But the LNP have sharpened their knives, ready to cut thousands of homes for Queenslanders at a time when we need more construction, not less.

“The LNP voted against 30,000 social and affordable homes, and have spent months railing against home ownership for thousands of Queenslanders – now it’s clear why, because the first thing they want to do is take an axe to them.

“We’ll get on with the job of building more homes, but revelations of a $100 billion razor gang shows, Queensland just cannot risk the LNP at any level of government.”

Quotes attributable to Senator for Queensland, Anthony Chisholm:

“Australia is in a housing crisis because we have a housing shortage. Building more homes, through projects like this, is one way we can solve this issue, which is why we are committed to delivering $32 billion in new housing initiatives. 

“We have the ambitious national goal of building 1.2 million homes across our cities, suburbs and regions, like Maryborough, by the end of the decade –– because more homes means more affordable housing.” 

“We’re stepping up and working with all levels of government, and the housing sector, to tackle the challenges we inherited from almost a decade of inaction under the LNP.”

Further information:

Anyone who needs housing assistance can contact the Maryborough Housing Service Centre during business hours on 07 4324 8600 or call the 24/7 Homeless Hotline on 1800 474 753.

ENDS

Media contact: Francis Dela Cruz - 0420 592 078