Property Council of Australia Queensland Executive Director Jess Caire said that as the maroons prepared for battle in this year's decider, the 2024 state election strategy called on candidates to adopt the famous Queensland spirit.
"Queenslanders always come together; whether during cyclones, responding to floods, fighting fires or on the footy field - our sense of mateship has seen us respond to crisis after crisis," Ms Caire said.
"The housing crisis should be no different, we need candidates looking to represent Queenslanders to adopt that same sense of comradery and take bold and brave actions that shape the Queensland we all deserve.
"As the mighty maroons prepare for battle in this year's decider, we need the Queenslander battle cry to not only be heard up and down Caxton Street; we also need it heard in William Street and in communities across the state," she said.
Ms Caire said the Property Council's state election strategy - Be a Queenslander - A Plan for our State - championed five pillars designed to support every Queenslander by restoring housing supply, preserving affordability, planning for growth, future proofing our construction sector and welcoming the investment Queensland needs.
"This strategy sends a clear message to those seeking election in October - Queenslanders stick together, and by supporting the asks outlined in our strategy you will be showing your support for the Queenslanders of today and tomorrow," Ms Caire said.
"A key ask in this campaign is restoring Queensland's competitive edge by reducing prohibitive taxes that are pushing housing beyond the reach of Queenslanders.
"Every new tax on property pushes up the cost of housing and is ultimately paid for by Queenslanders.
"This includes taxes like Additional Foreign Acquirer Duty (AFAD) and Foreign Land Tax Surcharge (FLTS) that was first introduced in 2016 and has been increased yet again in this year's state budget, ultimately adding increased costs to the delivery of new homes and apartments for Queenslanders.
"This isn't a tax that simply penalises foreign investors, it penalises Australian developers who rely on international funds to deliver their projects in Queensland, so the cost is passed on to the end user.
"Our research shows that a third of new homes in Brisbane are made up of government taxes. That is an astounding figure that is resulting in us losing the State of Origin when it comes to housing supply and affordability.
"New South Wales may struggle to win an Origin series, but when it comes to stealing our investors, they are streets ahead by exempting Australian-based developers backed by foreign capital from these charges.
"We need to follow suite. Queensland can't solve the housing crisis on its own and we certainly cannot tax our way out of it; we need help from reputable reliable investors to build the new homes, businesses and infrastructure our growing community needs, particularly the new apartments our renters need," she said.
Ms Caire said the "Be a Queenslander" campaign calls on candidates to commit to more infrastructure, bolster our construction workforce and make it easier for the private and public sector to team up to deliver catalytic precincts.
"The mighty maroons are experts in teamwork, we need government to adopt that same approach by teaming up with the property industry to deliver the homes, retail businesses, commercial offices, industrial supply, precincts and social infrastructure we need.
"The housing crisis has highlighted the critical role that property plays in the lives of Queenslanders and as a lifeline for the broader economy, and neglecting any aspect of the property ecosystem will prevent us from creating a thriving property industry," she said.
Five Pillars | A plan for our state:
- A Home for Every Queenslander: more can be done to fast-track supply - and preserve affordability - through sensible tax reform and new lending pathways, concessions, and grants.
- Welcome the Investment Queensland Needs: taxing international investors ultimately hurts Queensland renters. To boost apartment supply and become the home of Build-to- Rent (BTR), government policy needs to adopt an investment mindset that encourages catalytic capital flow.
- Plan Today for the Queensland of Tomorrow: as Queensland grows up - and out - we need a future-focused approach to planning that aligns land use with infrastructure provision to fix the speed of new supply to market.
- Future Proof Queensland's Building and Construction Sector: supporting a sustainable, inclusive, and skilled workforce is crucial to safeguarding our state's building activity. This can be achieved through embracing modern methods of construction and supporting greater female participation.
- Deliver Iconic Queensland Precincts and Partnerships: precincts are catalysts for positive change and embracing partnership models such as Business Improvement District (BID) models and Transport Oriented Developments, and the inclusion of a property industry representative on the Independent Task Force for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, will ensure our legacy precincts thrive for generations.
