Homes for Queenslanders: Apartments secured for Woolloongabba homes

• Miles Government purchases apartments, to upgrade into 20 social homes
• Part of Miles Government’s Homes for Queenslanders plan to deliver one million more homes, including 53,500 social homes
• LNP do not support purchasing homes for Queenslanders in need, instead vow to cut $15.5 billion in federal housing funding

The Miles Government has purchased another complex in Brisbane to help deliver more social homes for Queenslanders in need.

After the Federal Government decided it would not use its quarantine site in Pinkenba’s airport and industrial area for a possible housing solution, the Miles Government has reallocated $10 million it had put on the table for more housing.

That funding has been used to help purchase an apartment complex in Woolloongabba when it was put on the market by the owner.

Located close to the south Brisbane health precinct and other services, it will be upgraded to provide 20, two-bedroom homes for seniors, families and people with disability.

The first tenants are forecast to begin moving in over coming months following minor works.

It’s one of a number of properties purchased to give people a home sooner, including former hotels in South Brisbane and Spring Hill and former retirement villages and aged care homes in Logan, Clayfield, Toowoomba and Rothwell.

Just recently, the government used its Housing Investment Fund to also buy 85 units in Gladstone in partnership with Roseberry Community Services for social and affordable housing.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli and the LNP do not support the government buying homes for Queenslanders, saying they will not use the Housing Investment Fund to purchase homes.

The LNP have since vowed to cut the similar $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund as part of $15.5 billion in federal housing funding cuts.

Quotes attributable to Premier Steven Miles:

“Housing is one of the biggest issues around the state, and across the country.

“I have a plan to address these pressures, while also planning for the future.

“Across the state, we have more than $1 billion in social and affordable housing projects underway, but we’re also buying vacant hotels, motels and retirement villages to get people house sooner.

“I’m listening to Queenslanders and doing what matters to deliver a better future for them.” 

Quotes attributable to Member for Greenslopes Joe Kelly:

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

“While others either oppose us buying homes or having more homes full stop, I’m fighting to make sure we that the most vulnerable in our community have a safe place to call home.”

Quotes attributable to Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon:

“While we build, we’ve also been looking at other ways to get people into homes sooner like buying former hotels, motels and retirement villages.  

“These apartments will now go through minor works to make them more accessible and become 20 homes for Queenslanders in need.

“I won’t apologise for buying places while we build.

“That’s unlike the LNP who will tell Queenslanders and community housing providers one thing, but then turn around and say they don’t support government using its Housing Investment Fund to partner and buy homes.

“The same LNP who have now sharpened their knives to gut Queensland and Australians of $15.5 billion in federal housing funding. They just can’t be trusted.”

Further information:

Anyone who needs housing assistance can contact the Buranda Housing Service Centre during business hours on 07 3873 7700 or call the 24/7 Homeless Hotline on 1800 474 753.

ENDS

Media contact: Francis Dela Cruz - 0420 592 078