This analysis from Queensland Treasury,presented to about 40 people from across government,the private and community sectors during follow-up housing talks on Tuesday,highlights the depth of the issue facing those trying to chart a path out of record housing prices and availability pressures.
Based on unpublished Australian Bureau of Statistics data and anew method to better track the composition of households in real time with the Reserve Bank,the analysis shows the spreading of the state’s populationacross more homes has effectively undone more than two years of typical construction efforts.
This comes alongside continued growth in both population and the proportion of Queenslanders renting,uncertainty about the role of Airbnb-style leasing,and what various reports have described as a decade-long lack of focus from governments on social and affordable housing.
But finding solutions to address the housing problem facing the country and Queensland,which has seen the highest rent inflation and homelessness growth of all Australian jurisdictions,remains apolitical minefield for the state government.
All stakeholders agree that more social,affordable and homes in general are needed. But renter advocacy and social service groups are also calling for better security for tenants by banning the end of a fixed-term lease as areason to end a tenancy,and by capping rent increases near inflation.
After walking back suggestions,amid fierce backlash,that the government would do the latter,Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced on Tuesday it would instead move to limit the frequency of rent increases to once a year.