- Crisafulli Government delivers $242.2 million for housing in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Local Government Areas.
- Construction underway on 7 social homes in Yarrabah.
- The Government is delivering a place to call home for more First Nation peoples.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering a place to call home for more First Nation peoples in remote and discrete communities across Queensland.
It is one of the ways the Crisafulli Government is delivering for Queensland, with building industry red tape reform and a record $5.6 billion investment over four years laying the foundations to deliver 53,500 social and community homes by 2044.
This includes $242.2 million dedicated to building new social housing, developing residential land lots for further new housing and upgrading existing social housing in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Local Government Areas.
In Yarrabah 7 modular homes, all 3 or 4 bedrooms, are currently being installed and are expected to be completed by the end of the month.
A 34-lot residential land subdivision in Napranum will support the delivery of 38 new social homes and the first stages of a 22-lot residential land subdivision in Woorabinda.
The Crisafulli Government also delivered on its commitment to expand opportunities for home ownership in Queensland's indigenous communities earlier in the year by launching a rent-to-buy model through the Palm Island Home Ownership Scheme.
This scheme, delivered in partnership with the Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council is unlocking home ownership pathways in one of Queensland's discrete communities.
The Crisafulli Government's housing help follows a decade of underinvestment where Labor failed to plan for Queensland's growing population and added just 509 social homes on average per year.
In just ten months Queensland's housing pipeline is ramping up to deliver 2,000 social and community homes each year by the end of this term.
There are now almost 6,000 social and affordable homes in construction or under contract to be delivered, which is more than twice the number Labor had locked in at the time of their last Budget.
This includes 321 new homes, 55 extensions and 281 new land lots in First Nations remote and discrete communities, as part of our growing pipeline.
Housing and Public Works Minister Sam O'Connor said unlocking housing and boosting homeownership in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is a priority.
"Projects like this one at Yarrabah are vital to meeting the need for social housing for people in First Nations communities who are waiting for a place to call home," he said.
"We're committed to building new homes and upgrading existing housing in First Nations remote and discrete communities and promoting pathways to improve housing equity and support home ownership."
"This includes working with local leaders to develop new home ownership pathways, including collaborating with Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council to finalise the Rent-to-Buy scheme that offers First Nation peoples the opportunity to enter home ownership by purchasing their social housing property."
"While we have locked-in a record pipeline for social and community housing and are delivering more homes sooner, there is much more to be done to deliver a place to call home for more First Nations Queenslanders, and we remain committed to delivering the fresh start we promised."
Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Fiona Simpson said improved access to secure housing for Queensland's First Peoples was critical to wellbeing and dignity.
"The Crisafulli Government is committed to Closing The Gap by delivering projects which provide measurable improvements in housing, as well as health and education," Minister Simpson said.
"It is great to see these modular homes built locally in Cairns and used to give residents of Yarrabah the dignity of a roof over their heads.
"During a decade of decline under Labor, Queensland's Closing The Gap targets in key areas went backwards, and the former government abandoned regional and discrete Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities."
