By Member for Woodridge Cameron Dick
Housing remains one of the biggest challenges facing Queensland and our community of Logan.
Housing affordability and the lack of availability of rental properties continues to present a challenge for many Logan families.
That’s why it’s important to listen to the voices of renters, first home buyers and vulnerable people across our community.
Recently, our Queensland Labor team hosted a housing town hall in Logan to hear directly about the challenges facing our community.
Thank you to everyone in the Woodridge Electorate and the City of Logan who attended
the forum to tell their stories.
We heard from families struggling to find a place to call home. Renters who are being priced out of our community and young Queenslanders trying to get into the housing market.
LNP Premier David Crisafulli said he would fix the housing crisis, and yet things have
only worsened, with soaring house prices and rising rents across the state.
That’s why it was so important to hear from the community about the challenges, but
also about the solutions that can provide support, boost housing supply and address
affordability.
Labor is putting forward practical solutions to ease the pressure on Queensland families and help build more homes sooner.
In our Budget Reply, we announced that a future Labor Government would make rental bonds transferable between properties, meaning renters would not have to find the
money for an entirely new bond before their existing bond is returned.
We also proposed that renters earn interest on their rental bond, ensuring Queenslanders can benefit from the money they have provided as security while renting.
For families already facing rising rents and the increasing cost of living, these changes would help reduce the financial pressure associated with moving home.
But addressing the housing crisis also means making sure Queensland has the skilled
workforce needed to build more homes.
That’s why Labor has proposed free registration for tradie apprentices, helping reduce the costs faced by young Queenslanders undertaking an apprenticeship.
Supporting more Queenslanders through their apprenticeships means helping build the skilled workforce we need to increase housing construction and build more homes sooner.
These measures form part of Labor’s broader work on housing affordability, including our Housing Affordability Issues Paper, which is focused on listening to Queenslanders and identifying practical solutions to the housing challenges facing our state.
We need to support renters, help first home buyers, protect vulnerable Queenslanders and increase the supply of homes.
Labor will continue to listen to Queenslanders on this issue and work on practical solutions that make a real difference.
If you would like a copy of the discussion paper, which is open for public comment now,
or if you just have an idea that you think would help make housing more affordable and
accessible, please drop me a line at woodridge@parliament.qld.gov.au
I’d love to hear from you.
Subscribe to stay up-to-date with news from across Logan. You’ll receive a link to our digital newspaper direct to your inbox each week. It’s free.
Follow MyCity Logan on Facebook and Instagram
