QUEENSLAND Treasurer Cameron Dick handed down his second budget with emergency relief providers lauding the government’s move to commit $2.9 billion to social housing.
St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland chief executive officer Kevin Mercer said crisis accommodation and homelessness support services “have been put under great strain by the worsening affordable housing shortage”.
“This commitment will go a long way to ensuring no Queenslander is left behind,” he said.
Queensland Council of Social Services, which Vinnies is part of, welcomed the housing support news.
“This budget signals a new approach to housing and homelessness in Queensland,” QCOSS chief executive officer Aimee McVeigh said.
“This is the first step we have been calling for and provides opportunities for the community, government and private sector to work together toward solving a previously intractable problem.
“The $2.9 billion investment outlined in the budget will lead to more houses for more Queenslanders sooner.
“The Government has effectively tripled its investment into social housing over the next four years.
“The recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic must benefit all Queenslanders and this investment delivers just that – homes and jobs.”
Health was also a winner in the budget with the government earmarking $2 billion towards a hospital building fund over the next four years.
Another $480 million was devoted to the government’s ongoing COVID-19 response to cover fever clinics, contact tracing and testing, the vaccination program and quarantine.
State education won big with $16.8 billion committed to education, including funding for 10 new state schools expected to open by 2024.
Those looking for jobs can also look forward to more work-force training.
A $3.3 billion Queensland Jobs Fund has been set-up and includes $320 million on an initiative aimed at providing work-based training for 15,000 people a year.
Another $140 million will help eligible businesses to start hiring again.
Queensland’s screen industry will also receive $71 million to help attract film and television projects over the next four years.
