More social housing means more jobs

Minister for Community Services and Housing and Minister for Women
The Honourable Karen Struthers
25/11/2009
More social housing means more jobs

The Bligh Government is on track and on target to roll out more than 4,000 new social housing dwellings across Queensland.

Housing Minister Karen Struthers told State Parliament today the Bligh Government was taking action to meet Queensland's unprecedented growth with an unprecedented investment in social housing.

Ms Struthers said 75% of the new dwellings were expected to be completed by the end of next year.

"It's action stations in Queensland. Building workers have got their hard hats on from Cairns to Coolangatta and it couldn't have come at a better time with jobs and job security more important than ever before," Ms Struthers said.

"It's a win for workers in the building industry and a win for people who need a roof over their head. We've created more than 4,500 jobs this year alone.

"We're also spending $80 million on repairs and maintenance to spruce up our existing social housing stock. All this activity means jobs for local electricians, landscape workers, painters and local builders.

"It's a billion dollar-plus investment under the Federal Government's Nation Building Plan and it's on top of the Bligh Government's own $500 million building program.

"We've entered an exciting new era in social housing in Queensland. We're building new ones, sprucing up the old ones, and even buying up old motels and giving them a motel makeover. More often than not, you'll find our social housing is the best-looking house in the street," she said.

The Bligh Government is tackling growth, tackling homelessness and tackling unemployment with sensible, workable solutions.

"But it's an uphill battle when some local councils object to social housing. We need their support, and I say to them: 'Next time there's a development application before council, think twice before objecting - think about the person who is living rough with no place to call home.

"We've got an Opposition in Queensland with no policies for people doing it tough and that's all the more reason why the rest of us need to work doubly hard to make sure that tomorrow's Queensland is a fairer, more caring place," she said.