“Housing Availability and Affordability Bill 2023” – a housing revolution or an ineffective reaction to the crisis?

The Palaszczuk Government has introduced the Housing Availability and Affordability (Planning and Other Legislation Amendment) Bill 2023, which aims to streamline housing development and “unlock” land supply across the state.

The proposed changes include:

• New powers for the Planning Minister to acquire land or create easements to deliver critical infrastructure needed to unlock development;
• A new assessment pathway for development that is a State priority, such as infill and affordable housing; and
• A new land use zone called the Urban Investigation Zone, enabling councils to better manage development in growth areas.

The proposed changes are a response to the challenges in housing supply and include empowering the Planning Minister with new abilities to acquire land and create easements for critical infrastructure. Additionally, a new assessment pathway for priority development and the introduction of the Urban Investigation Zone aims to facilitate more affordable and diverse housing projects.

These reforms come as part of the state’s commitment to delivering the final ShapingSEQ 2023 Update by the end of 2023, which aims to accommodate the housing needs of a rapidly growing population, including 900,000 new homes required in the south-east corner by 2046.

The Palaszczuk Government indicates that The Housing Availability and Affordability Bill 2023 will usher in a new era for housing in Queensland, where accessibility, affordability, and diversity are at the forefront.

Is it enough to address QLD’s housing challenges or is it too little, too late?