Innovation and efficiency to improve social housing in Queensland

The Newman Government will implement innovative programs and make better use of existing resources to deliver new social housing in the areas that need it most.

Housing and Public Works Minister Tim Mander said the 2013-14 State Budget included $442.9 million to provide housing to Queenslanders in need and to deliver office and housing accommodation for public servants working in the regions.

“It is no secret that the public housing system is under great stress and Labor’s wasteful spending and mismanagement of the department has only added further pressure,” Mr Mander said.

“The task of fixing the State’s finances was made all the more difficult after the January 2013 natural disasters.

“Currently, there are more than 23,000 applications for social housing in Queensland.

“The Newman Government is tackling these challenges head on by delivering services as effectively and efficiently as possible and implementing policies that promote economic growth.”

Mr Mander said the department would partner with not-for-profit groups and the private sector to deliver a range of initiatives, including major renewal projects in Logan, the Gold Coast, Mount Isa, Townsville and Gladstone.

“These projects will increase the availability of social and affordable housing and re-configure existing social housing to more closely match the needs of families on the housing register now and into the future,” he said. 

“We will also increase the supply of affordable accommodation across the State with $20.7 million in Queensland Government incentives to investors to deliver over 10,000 dwellings as part of the National Rental Affordability Scheme.”

Mr Mander said indigenous communities would also benefit from the 2013-14 State Budget.

“We will address overcrowding and increase the number of dwellings in indigenous communities by providing $237.7 million – including $149.5 million in funding through the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing,” he said.

Mr Mander said the Newman Government had unashamedly been pro-growth, had cut red tape that impeded business and adopted a more strategic and innovative approach to procurement.

“From 1 July, Building and Asset Services (BAS) will commence operations, centrally coordinating the procurement and contract management of building services to ensure the best value for money across government,” he said.

“BAS’s skilled and capable workforce will contract with the private sector on behalf of government agencies to outsource at least 85 per cent of trade-based services.”

[ENDS] 4 June 2013

Media contact: Martin Kennedy 07 3225 2193