MEDIA RELEASE

THE HON SHAYNE NEUMANN MP, FEDERAL MEMBER FOR BLAIR

Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann has called for a fair share for his electorate of the new $2 billion Albanese Government commitment to urgently boost public housing, given the region’s surging population is putting pressure on the supply of rental properties.

The Albanese Labor Government is delivering more than $398 million to Queensland to immediately begin bolstering the social housing stock.

Part of the $2-billion Social Housing Fund Accelerator payment, the funding will be provided within the next two weeks and will deliver thousands of new social homes.

Funding has been allocated on a per capita basis with a minimum of $50 million allocated to each state and territory.

The Queensland Government will have flexibility in how it uses the funds, including through new builds, expanding existing programs, renovating or refurbishing existing but currently uninhabitable housing stock.

The plan is to create thousands of rental homes for Queenslanders on social housing waiting lists and will increase housing supply sooner, with all funding to be committed by the State Government within the two years to 30 June 2025.

This continues the work of the new National Housing Accord, a shared ambition to build one million new homes over five years from 2024 and builds on the work of National Cabinet on renters’ rights and planning reforms.

The $2 billion in additional funding brings the Albanese Government’s investment in housing and homelessness to more than $9.5 billion in this financial year to 30 June.

Mr Neumann said the Albanese Government will announce soon how the funding will be allocated, but insisted he will be advocating for a fair share for his electorate given Ipswich is the fastest growing region in the state.

“I want to make sure we get a good slice of that investment based on the size and growth of our population,” he said.

“So, I will be fighting for a fair share for Blair, and advocating to make sure we can keep up with the strong growth and demand that we’re seeing here in Ipswich, the Somerset Region and Karana Downs area.

“We know many people are finding it hard to find stable, affordable rental accommodation. Insecure housing can be stressful and makes it hard to get ahead, so this funding will make a real difference to locals who are doing it tough.

“A secure roof over your head changes your life and sets you up for a better future. It gives you the opportunity to choose a career, start a family, and plan for the future.

“More funding to build more social and affordable housing is incredibly important and builds on the great work that both the Albanese and Palaszczuk Governments have been doing.

“I welcome the announcement from the State Government this week that another three social housing projects are underway in Ipswich, but we need to do more, and this $398 million funding injection will help drive that.

“I look forward to working with Federal and State colleagues to get on with the job of delivering more social housing for our region, so more locals can have a place to call home when they need it most.

“We could do even more if the LNP and the Greens stopped blocking our $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund in the Senate. This is the single biggest investment in social housing by a Federal Government in more than a decade,” Mr Neumann said.  

In addition to the Social Housing Fund Accelerator and Housing Australia Future Fund, the Albanese Government has announced a wide range of initiatives to address housing affordability, supply and homelessness, including:

• A new National Housing Accord, a shared ambition to build one million new well-located homes over five years from 2024.
• Working with state and territories, and local government through National Cabinet on renters’ rights and planning reforms to boost housing supply and affordability.
• Helping 1.1 million Australians with the rising cost of rent by increasing the maximum rates of Commonwealth Rent Assistance by 15 per cent.
• An additional $2 billion in financing for more social and affordable rental housing by increasing the guaranteed liabilities of the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation.
• Incentives to increase the supply of rental housing by improving arrangements for investments in build-to-rent accommodation.
• Investing $350 million in additional Federal funding to deliver 10,000 affordable rental homes over five years from 2024 as part of the Accord – matched by the states and territories.
• Widening the remit of the National Housing Infrastructure Facility, making up to $575 million available to invest immediately in social and affordable rental homes.
• Providing an extra $67.5 million to states and territories, through the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement in 2023-24, to help tackle homelessness.
• A one-year extension of the $1.6 billion annual National Housing and Homelessness Agreement with states and territories while the Government’s new Housing and Homelessness Plan is developed.
• Establishing a new Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee scheme and expanding eligibility for the Home Guarantee Scheme, helping more people into home ownership sooner, including more than 2,100 people in Blair.