Labor is calling on the Crisafulli Government to publicly release an independent review into
homelessness with concerns raised about the treatment of rough sleepers under the LNP.
The Opposition revealed this week that people on the Gold Coast were exited back into
homelessness after sheltering from the cyclone with no offers of temporary or permanent
accommodation.
While rough sleepers were also kicked out of their tents across Brisbane and Moreton Bay with
Labor calling on the LNP Government to ensure they had safe accommodation.
The independent review was commissioned last year by Labor to look into the way support services
and government respond to homelessness, assessing current responses and looking at opportunities
for improvement.
Alongside the review, the Miles Government also released its Homes for Queenslanders plan,
increasing funding by 20 per cent for homelessness organisations and laying out a blueprint to
deliver one million homes, including 53,500 social homes.
The former Miles Government backed key recommendations from an interim report released in
June, including prioritising support for women and children escaping domestic violence, improving
data collection to better track homelessness trends, and ensuring stronger coordination between
government and frontline services.
But despite the final report being due in January, the LNP Government has failed to release it or
respond to its recommendations.
As homeless Queenslanders face fines and displacement, the Opposition is calling on the LNP to
urgently release the final report to deliver the support that’s needed now.
Quotes attributable to Ipswich West MP Wendy Bourne:
“There are people in Ipswich who are sleeping rough and need a roof over their head. I regularly
volunteer with a service that provides support for those who are homeless across Ipswich. We need
this LNP Government to focus more on homelessness and less on teasing Queenslanders about what
election promise they’ll break for the Olympics.”
Quotes attributable to Bundamba MP Lance McCallum:
“Right now, there are people living in cars and tents across Ipswich and they are being left with
nowhere to go.
“The LNP is sitting on solutions while people sleep on the streets.
“The Crisafulli LNP Government need to do their job and provide those sleeping rough with options
for safe accommodation and support.
“They need to urgently release the report and tell our community what actions they will take to
reduce homelessness and offer support to our vulnerable.
“You can’t end homelessness by ignoring it. Release the report. Implement the solutions. No more
delays and excuses.”
Quotes attributable to Ipswich MP Jennifer Howard:
“The Crisafulli LNP government have already short-changed homelessness organisations millions in
funding across Queensland and here in Ipswich, and they refuse to repurpose existing buildings to
accommodate those in need.
“The LNP’s housing record last time they were in government was shameful.
“They sold off social homes; they cut the social housing construction program by 90 per cent; and
they built no new social housing in Ipswich at all.
“Our communities’ most vulnerable have also just been impacted by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, and
they deserve support from this LNP Government just as much as anyone else.”
Quotes attributable to Jordan MP Charis Mullen:
“It’s three months since this independent report was due to Government, and the LNP appear to
have hidden it or conveniently forgotten about it.
“The people of Ipswich deserve better than this.
“In that time local groups have spoken out and raised concern about how people experiencing
homelessness are being treated while David Crisafulli and the LNP cut housing and funding for
homelessness organisations.”
