CHURCH land in Queensland could be used to help tackle the state’s housing crisis, according to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
Brisbane Archdiocese was amongst stakeholders at a high-level housing roundtable meeting that is a step towards a state Housing Summit to be held on October 20.
After hosting today’s talks, Premier Palaszczuk thanked the Catholic Church as among businesses, organisations and church groups that could make property or land available to help tackle Queensland’s housing crisis.
Ms Palaszczuk said the Church had identified blocks of land across the state and would work with government “with the view to putting some accommodation on those blocks of land”.
The Premier also announced the state would refurbish 200 extra beds at Griffith University for crisis accommodation.
“We will convert former and vacant student accommodation into crisis housing at the Mount Gravatt campus. This collaboration is exactly what we are trying to achieve from the Queensland Housing Summit,” the Premier said.
Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge said the Archdiocese was well placed for discussions with all levels of government through its outreach across southeast Queensland.
“The Archdiocese of Brisbane supports efforts to unlock housing supply for Queenslanders,” Archbishop Coleridge said.
“We recognise the importance of a home in everyone’s life and we understand the pressure on vulnerable individuals and families seeking housing assistance and support. The solution will involve expertise from across the board and we’re happy to play whatever role we can to assist.
“We are embedded in communities through our parishes, our schools and our services which give us reach into areas of need and an opportunity to respond in practical ways.”
Archbishop Coleridge said that response would include the Archdiocese assessing any property or community networks that could provide opportunity for housing.
“We will certainly look at the contribution we can make through use of land or properties that can support social justice outcomes and further our mission,” Archbishop Coleridge said.
“We already make a significant contribution to education, social services and other areas within the southeast, from the New South Wales border north to the Hervey Bay region and west to the likes of Kingaroy and Gatton.”
The Archdiocese of Brisbane employs thousands of Queenslanders in its social services arm Centacare, which focuses on communities throughout southeast Queensland.
The Archdiocese also has a strong understanding of Queensland’s growth through its 146 schools which educate more than 75,000 young people.
“On any given day, our Archdiocese is involved in our communities in many ways and that puts us in constant contact with others who will be at this housing roundtable,” Archbishop Coleridge said.
“This will be an exercise in collaboration, and we look forward to making whatever contribution we can.”
Queensland’s housing crisis is compounded by massive interstate migration, building supply constraints, and flood events.
About 220,000 people are expected to move to Queensland over the next five years
Brisbane Archdiocese was represented at today’s roundtable by Government Relations Director Cathy Uechtritz.
