A Fresh Start for Queensland: Unlocking home ownership in Indigenous communities

• Crisafulli Government delivers on 100 Day Plan commitment to increase opportunities for home ownership in Queensland's Indigenous communities.
• Rent-to-buy model launched under a new Palm Island Home Ownership Scheme.
• Work underway to open new housing pathways in other remote Indigenous communities.

The Crisafulli Government has delivered on its promise to deliver a new rent-to-buy scheme to boost home ownership on Palm Island.

The Palm Island Home Ownership Scheme will allow residents to purchase their Queensland Department of Housing owned social home by entering into a rent-to-buy agreement with the Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council.

Following completion of the payment plan, a 99-year home ownership lease will be registered, and ownership of the dwelling will be transferred.

Up to 300 social homes owned by the Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council will be made available through the scheme for residents to buy in the coming years.

Currently only 1.4% of Palm Island residents own their own home, highlighting the desperate need for targeted housing solutions like the new Palm Island Home Ownership Scheme.

Queensland’s overall home ownership rate is 64%, but this drops to only 38% for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households, and just 5.3% in discrete communities.

Today’s announcement is yet another housing commitment delivered by the Crisafulli Government as part of its 100 Day Plan.

This includes establishing the Queensland Ministerial Housing Taskforce Cabinet Committee, scrapping first home buyer stamp duty on new builds and allowing these first home buyers to rent out a room without penalty and re-establishing the Productivity Commission to restore building and construction productivity.

Minister for Housing Sam O’Connor said the Crisafulli Government was working to improve outcomes by listening to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the state.

“We are working in partnership with local leaders to give First Nations people the opportunity to own their own home where they previously haven’t been able to because of government regulation and an inability to secure private finance,” Minister O’Connor said.

“Subsidised modular homes will also be delivered to the island over coming weeks to ensure more homes are being added to this community.

“Through these initiatives, we aim to provide ongoing opportunities for Indigenous businesses and support a pipeline of skilled First Nations workers.

“Unlocking home ownership is a practical, tangible way of supporting aspiration and we’re determined to help more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people achieve this dream.”

Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Fiona Simpson said Palm Island was a community committed to self-determination, which had put in the hard work to achieve great outcomes in the future.

“We know from our consultation with Mayor Lacey and the Palm Island community that home ownership is a key priority, it’s something they’re passionate about and it’s something we’re keen to make happen,” Minister Simpson said.

“The work we are undertaking on Palm Island will help unlock new pathways in remote and discrete communities to support intergenerational wealth and participate in our economy.

“This is not a one-size fits all approach. We’ll be listening to, and working with, other remote and discrete Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to understand their needs and specific priorities around housing, health and education.”

The Palm Island Home Ownership Scheme has been achieved through extensive community consultation undertaken by the Queensland Government and Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council.

ENDS

MEDIA STATEMENT:

Minister O’Connor: Caet Young 0427 939 326

Minister Simpson: Kate Leonard-Jones 0492 840 887