The Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) has welcomed the Crisafulli government’s establishment of the Queensland Productivity Commission (PC), highlighting its potential to address critical housing market challenges and strengthen the economy.
In its submission to the Governance, Energy, and Finance Committee, REIQ emphasised that existing taxation policies and legislative settings are creating obstacles for the housing sector, limiting its ability to meet demand and impacting the broader economic landscape.
REIQ acting CEO Katrina Beavon (pictured above) described the Queensland Productivity Commission’s creation as an opportunity for evidence-based, industry-informed solutions to improve Queensland’s housing ecosystem.
“We commend the government for prioritising Queensland’s productivity challenges, a call the REIQ highlighted in our state election policy platform,” Beavon said.
“Housing is an essential pillar of our economy and community wellbeing, often regarded as the backbone of stability, but we are concerned that legislative interventions and current tax settings are stifling its potential,” Beavon said.
She urged the Queensland Productivity Commission to consult closely with housing industry experts and stakeholders to ensure its recommendations are practical, transparent, and effective. Public hearings, she added, would further encourage debate and accountability.
REIQ identified three core issues for the commission to address: barriers to home ownership, the impacts of rental legislative changes, and ways to optimise tax settings to boost housing supply.
“In the last term of government, the housing sector has faced an unrelenting wave of legislative reforms in the rental space,” Beavon said. “While many reforms were well-intentioned, they have added significant administrative burdens and complexity without necessarily delivering better outcomes.”
Low rental vacancy rates, an overstretched social housing system, and increasing homelessness were highlighted as pressing challenges.
Beavon also raised concerns over the mental health pressures faced by property managers due to rising workloads, which she described as an “indirect tax” on small businesses.
REIQ stressed the need for a comprehensive review of current policies to assess their impact on productivity and housing availability.
“It’s time to hit pause and take stock of whether the current approach is inhibiting or enhancing productivity,” Beavon said. “A holistic review by the PC is the right step forward and the REIQ stands ready to collaborate and provide our sector’s insights.”
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