Slippery Sam must fill homelessness services funding shortfall

• LNP government misleading homelessness services

• Housing Minister Sam O’Connor promised year-on-year increase to services – but has not delivered

The LNP has been caught out short-changing homelessness services by millions of dollars in a slippery move by the new Housing Minister.

Shadow House Minister Meaghan Scanlon says the LNP government has misled homelessness services by promising increasing funding year on year, but not delivering it.

That’s because Treasurer David Janetzki admitted in his mid-year budget update that homelessness organisations would receive only $123 million year-on-year, $45 million less than what Labor promised at the election.

With ongoing housing pressures, Labor committed more than $168 million to increase support and emergency accommodation across the forwards, with more money year-on-year to help deal with rising costs.

Despite saying they would provide an uplift year-on-year to help with these costs, the Crisafulli Government has failed to provide it in their costings, leaving services millions of dollars out of pocket.

The funding has never been so important with new data revealing an increase in demand and cost for services in the 12 months to June 2024.

The LNP’s Housing Minister must face the music, apologise to Queenslanders and match Labor’s full commitment.

Only Labor had a plan to ensure more Queenslanders had a roof over their head by building one million more homes, including 53,500 socials, and providing a 20 per cent injection for homelessness services.

Quotes attributable to Opposition Leader Steven Miles:

“When the LNP play politics it’s Queenslanders that lose out. Today, that extends to those in our community most in need.

“Slippery Sam might have tried to dismiss our concerns, but it seems the Treasurer has let the truth slip.

“The truth is, this LNP government is short-changing homelessness services by $45 million by failing to consider indexation.

“This government must match Labor’s commitment at the election to ensure $168 million is delivered to these vital services over the next four years.”

Quotes attributable to Shadow Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon:

“The LNP has misled Queenslanders and the homelessness services that protect our most vulnerable.

“When we warned of the LNP’s stealth cuts, their Housing Minister brushed it off as nothing to see, even going as far as putting together a slick social media video to allay concerns.

“Sadly, homelessness organisations are now waking up with the reality that they’ve been short-changed $45 million in critical funding.

“That’s money that goes to direct support for those sleeping rough, employing staff who can provide wraparound support and emergency accommodation.

“New data shows that demand for these services, and the cost associated with it, continues to grow which is why this funding is so important.

“This is just another example of the LNP saying one thing, and doing another.”

ENDS