REIQ CEO calls for conversations about housing to change

After representing the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) during the Queensland Housing Roundtable on 20 September, CEO Antonia Mercorella said that it was “time to change the conversation about housing”.

“I’ve appeared before countless Senate inquiries, parliamentary hearings, and housing roundtables, yet the same voices keep getting called back for more talking and nothing appears to be materially changing,” Ms Mercorella said.

She added that “nothing will change” until there are fundamentally different conversations and a willingness to make “bold and courageous” decisions.

Furthermore, Ms Mercorella has called for a “radical shift” in reconsidering the taxation and regulatory settings that currently underpin the housing market.

“It’s time to look outside of Queensland and Australia to find new solutions that overcome the financial and bureaucratic hurdles impacting new construction process and cost and ownership pathways in Queensland,” she stated.

Ms Mercorella shot more barbs at the government, stating that there isn’t “enough innovative thinking” to address the housing crisis.

“Given the extent of the problem, and the political focus dedicated to the issue, you’d think we would have seen stronger action by now,” Ms Mercorella said.

“We’ve heard political promises of a proper long-term plan for housing in the works, but that’s starting to feel like a long shot.”

Ms Mercorella further stated that the REIQ has commenced on “a solid action plan” in order to offer a way forward for Queensland, with plans to engage with community groups and key stakeholders in the coming months.

State governments unveil housing plans

Ms Mercorella comments came as the Victorian Labor government announced an ambitious 10-year housing plan to boost supply and affordable housing in the state.

Entitled Victoria’s Housing Statement – The Decade Ahead 2024–2034, the package has set a target to build 800,000 new homes over the next 10 years.

The state government aims to build 80,000 homes per year for 10 years, delivered through an Affordability Partnership with the housing industry.

The partnership was signed alongside the Property Council of Australia, Master Builders Victoria, the Urban Development Institute of Australia, the Housing Industry Association, and Super Housing Partnerships.

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews commented at the time of the announcement that the “status quo is not an option, and admiring the problem will only make it worse”.

“Unless we take bold and decisive action now, Victorians will be paying the price for generations to come,” Mr Andrews said.

“Whether you’re buying your first place, upsizing or downsizing as life changes, or renting – the work we’re doing will mean there’ll be a place you can afford, and that you can call home.”

Preceding this, the NSW Labor government released its state budget, revealing plans to boost housing supply, expedite planning regulations, and construct more affordable housing.

[RELATED: Victorian government sets ambitious housing target]