LNP Deputy Premier Bleijie tells Labor opposition to ‘cry me a river’ over social housing sales
Queensland’s second most senior politician has told the opposition to “cry to me” over their criticism of the government’s resumption of social housing sales.
Deputy Prime Minister Jarrod Bleijie made the comments as he opened applications for the second round of his government’s $500 million infrastructure fund to boost housing developments.
Earlier in the day, Opposition Leader Steven Miles held a media conference with housing spokesman Meaghan Scanlon and said the sales were “taking Queensland backwards”.
The first details of the resumption of sales, which were paused by Labor in 2022 after criticism of the action due to increased demand, were published in parliamentary budget estimates last August.
As a result, the opposition put a parliamentary question to Housing Minister Sam O’Connor about expected revenues, which Miles said on Sunday were $119.3 million.
Scanlon added: “It is counterintuitive that the Crisafulli government would sell public housing in the middle of a crisis.”
Speaking to reporters at a media conference in Brisbane’s south, Bleijie stated that between 2015 and 2020, the Department of Housing sold an average of 280 social homes each year.
“I mean, Labor cry to me, they can’t lecture people about housing affordability… the crisis we have in Queensland at the moment,” Bleijie said.
“To think about the two people who got up and spoke this morning, Labor affordability and the reason we have a housing crisis in the first place.”
Bleiijie said the LNP had built four times more social and affordable homes than Labor and 5,900 contracts had been signed or built since coming to power, most by his own government.
Median house prices in Brisbane rose 13.3 percent last year to $1.17 million, placing it second behind Sydney. Another 11 percent increase is expected this year.
The average price of a unit rose 19.3 per cent to more than $770,000 in December, with Brisbane ranked second for more than a year.
As part of this process, the lands owned by the Ministry that are “not suitable for supporting social housing outcomes” were also considered to be offered for sale “so that they can be offered to a wider housing supply”.
He said the latest state budget included $119.3 million in “cash inflows from the sale of non-financial assets”, in line with Labour’s 2022 and 2023 budgets, and was forecast to continue in the future.
This is not tied to any expectations or goals, O’Connor wrote, with any proceeds being reinvested into the department’s social and housing capital program.
Start your day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Matt Dennien is a reporter covering state politics and public services for the Brisbane Times. He previously worked for newspapers in Tasmania and Brisbane community radio station 4ZZZ. Contact him securely on Signal @mattdennien.15Connect via email.
