The Palaszczuk Government’s $1.8 billion Queensland Housing Strategy is set to deliver comprehensive support for Moreton Bay locals, from addressing homelessness to assisting homeownership.

$96 million in new homes for Moreton Bay

Minister for Health Cameron Dick, who is visiting Caboolture today, said the ten year Queensland Housing Strategy was spearheaded by a construction jobs program that would revitalise housing across Moreton Bay.

“Through the Queensland Housing Strategy the Palaszczuk Government is investing $96.6 million to build 330 new homes in the Moreton Bay region over the next five years,” Mr Dick.

“This investment will see work for small, medium and large construction businesses, support 55 local jobs each year over the five years.

“These new, modern homes will better cater for the needs of vulnerable Queenslanders, especially seniors, people with disability and women and children escaping domestic and family violence.”

First Home Buyers Grants

Treasurer Curtis Pitt said the Palaszczuk Government’s $20,000 Queensland First Home Owners’ Grant was helping tackle housing affordability.

More than 1,500 Moreton Bay locals had received a grant or made an application up until the 31 May 2017.

“In last year’s State Budget I boosted the Queensland First Home Owners’’ Grant from $15,000 to $20,000,” Mr Pitt said.

“This is helping Queenslanders buy their first home while also supporting jobs in our building industry and related sectors.

“The grant was to end on 30 June but in last week’s Budget I provided $30 million to extend its availability to the end of December.

“The latest figures show 4,900 grants worth $98 million have been paid out since the program started in July last year.

“In addition there are almost 500 applications for the grant being processed.”

Mr Pitt said the $20,000 Queensland First Home Owners’ Grant was available to help buy newly constructed houses or apartments up to the value of $750,000.

“I urge anyone considering buying their first home to look into the grant and make a decision before the end of the year,” he said.

For information visit the Queensland First Home Owners’ Grant website.

$3.8 million in homelessness funding

The Palaszczuk Government is also providing $3.8 million of homelessness funding support to the region’s most vulnerable.

Member for Morayfield Mark Ryan said the funding would support the women and men on the frontline of homelessness support to make a real difference.

“This $3.8 million in homelessness funding our Government is providing will make sure that homelessness services can continue to support the housing needs of the most vulnerable in our community,” Mr Ryan said.

"The Palaszczuk Government’s $1.8 billion Queensland Housing Strategy is about much more than just building new homes.

“We know that access to safe, secure and affordable housing is critical to employment and educational outcomes.

“Through this strategy, we are improving support and transforming services to open up better housing pathways for all Queenslanders,” he said.

Five year homelessness agreements

Member for Kallangur Shane King said the Palaszczuk Government was backing in the investment in housing and homelessness by supporting service providers with longer agreements.

“Working on the frontlines of homelessness is one of the toughest jobs in the state and the traditional practice of short-term funding agreements makes that job even tougher,” Mr King said.

“It’s difficult to attract and hire skilled, experienced staff if you can only offer 6 or 12 month contracts.

“But more fundamentally, you can’t build the skills and experience of the sector if all you can offer is short term employment.

“These longer agreements will give those people on the frontlines certainty around their jobs, allowing their organisations to better plan for the future.

“It’s about job security, it’s about funding certainty and it’s about providing a better outcome for vulnerable people in the Moreton Bay region.”

Member for Pumicestone Rick Williams said helping Queenslanders into housing provided families with security and also created jobs during construction.

“Every home built represents work for local tradies, including carpenters, electricians and plumbers,” Mr Williams said.

“That means security for local businesses and security for local families.

“These jobs, big and small, form a strong pipeline of construction jobs for Moreton Bay locals.”