澳洲昆士蘭政府日前（10號）在財政預算計劃撥款推出一系列的房屋措施，以舒緩昆州居民的房屋壓力。以下是官方公告的中文翻譯及英文原文：
前言
昆士蘭州的居民正面臨與房屋供應和負擔能力相關的重大壓力，這些壓力是由於房屋需求創下歷史新高並超過供應所引起的。
歷史最低的利率、大量的政府刺激措施以及疫情期間家庭平均人數的減少，再加上意外且創紀錄的人口增長，導致昆士蘭州近年來的房屋需求激增。
然而，建築活動難以跟上需求，因為疫情相關的材料和勞動力短缺、惡劣天氣和洪水以及建築公司的破產使其受到嚴重限制。租賃供應條件一直非常緊張，過去兩年的空置率徘徊在1%左右。
昆士蘭政府繼續致力於確保每個昆士蘭居民都能獲得安全、可靠且負擔得起的住房，滿足他們的需求，並能夠參與這個繁榮州的社會和經濟生活。
為了實現這一目標，政府推出了全新的住房計劃「昆士蘭人的家園」。作為該計劃的一部分，政府正在投資31億澳元於住房和無家可歸者的項目。
「昆士蘭人的家園」圍繞五個關鍵支柱：
一、更快建造更多的房屋
更多的昆士蘭房屋需要在合適的地點建造，而且需要更快地建造。「昆士蘭人的家園」包括到2046年新增100萬套房屋的目標，其中包括53,500套新的社會住房。由於該州95%的房屋供應由私營部門提供，政府、私營部門和社區部門之間的合作是實現這一目標所必需的。
相關舉措包括：
- 設立3.5億澳元基金，以激勵填充開發，支持在合適地點新建房屋
- 新設州政府主導的開發團隊，以簡化決策，迅速解決阻礙新房屋建設的規劃和基礎設施問題，包括社會和經濟適用房
- 提供1,250萬澳元的有針對性、需求為導向的資金，幫助地方政府進行戰略規劃並更新其規劃方案
- 推出全新的「昆士蘭特色設計系列」，該系列將提供明確的要求，以便在符合這些要求時，加快交付新房屋，重點是可行的中低密度產品。
二、支持昆士蘭租戶
隨著昆士蘭的變化，我們的住房系統也在變化。更多的人在租房，而且租房時間比以往任何時候都長。昆士蘭政府正在通過改革改善租房體驗，以及幫助困難租戶的產品和服務，來支持租戶。
相關舉措包括：
- 設立1.6億澳元的租戶救助包，以在建新房的同時，為更多家庭提供即時的生活成本支持，包括幫助支付押金和租金
- 改革租賃法律以保護租戶權利，包括禁止所有形式的租金競價。
三、幫助首次置業者進入市場
過去8年來，政府已經通過購房者補助支持了69,000名首次購房者。
為了支持更多的首次置業者，該補助金已增加到購買新房可獲得3萬澳元，直到2025年6月30日，這是全國最慷慨的計劃之一。通過針對新房，政府還鼓勵市場提供更多的房屋供應，以長期降低住房成本。
昆士蘭政府致力於使住房系統更加公平，縮小城市、地區和偏遠地區原住民之間的差距。政府投入6,130萬澳元的「我們的家園行動計劃」，匯集了一系列應對系統性挑戰和回應原住民獨特文化優勢、價值觀和優先事項的行動。
其他舉措包括：
- 通過「銷售給租戶計劃」支持社會住房租戶擁有自己的住房
- 與澳大利亞政府合作實施「幫助購房計劃」，使全國多達40,000個中低收入家庭更容易購買房屋
- 支持偏遠地區和地區的昆士蘭居民，暫時提高昆士蘭住房金融貸款的收入資格門檻。
2024-25財政預算還包括新的收入舉措，旨在為首次置業者提供緩解措施。首次置業者轉讓稅優惠的資格將擴展至應稅價值高達80萬澳元的房屋，從目前的55萬澳元提高。首次置業者對價值高達70萬澳元的房屋不需繳納稅費，並將獲得對價值高達80萬澳元的部分優惠。
此外，首次置業者轉讓稅空地優惠的資格將擴展至應稅價值高達50萬澳元的空地，從目前的40萬澳元提高。
這些變化將使首次置業者優惠的最高價值增加8,600澳元（總計17,350澳元），首次置業者空地優惠的最高價值增加3,500澳元（總計10,675澳元）。
估計這些首次置業者優惠的變化將惠及每年約10,000名首次置業者。
四、推動我們的社會住房大規模建設
昆士蘭政府設定了一個到2046年交付53,500套社會住房的宏大目標。通過這一目標，滿足弱勢昆士蘭居民的需求，形成了一系列：
- 8個新的青年宿舍，為正在學習或工作的年輕人提供穩定的住房和支持
- 10個新的或替代的家庭暴力庇護所，為婦女和兒童提供即時的安全和保護
- 通過與原住民和托雷斯海峽島民地方政府當局和社區的合作，為原住民家庭提供1,200套社會住房
- 在全州為無家可歸者提供更多的支持性住所。
昆士蘭政府將繼續與澳大利亞政府和社區住房部門合作，交付昆士蘭居民需要的住房。
五、努力終結無家可歸
「昆士蘭人的家園」加強了昆士蘭政府為幫助昆士蘭居民避免無家可歸所設置的安全網。昆士蘭政府正在加大努力，為專門的無家可歸服務提供更多資金，為地區提供更多緊急住宿，並為原住民和年輕人提供更多幫助。
昆士蘭政府支持前線專門的無家可歸服務，增加20%的資金以提高其能力，同時對全州無家可歸應對措施進行獨立審查。
如需了解更多關於「昆士蘭人的家園」的信息，請訪問網站www.housing.qld.gov.au/homesforqueenslanders。
英文原文
Queenslanders are experiencing significant pressures associated with housing availability and affordability, underpinned by all- time high housing demand surpassing supply.
Record low interest rates, substantial government stimulus and a decrease in the average household size during the pandemic, followed by an unexpected and record increase in the population, drove a surge in demand for housing in Queensland in recent years.
However, construction activity has struggled to keep up with demand, significantly constrained by pandemic-related material and labour shortages, poor weather and flooding, and construction company insolvencies. Rental supply conditions have remained extremely tight, with the vacancy rate hovering around only 1 per cent over the past 2 years.
The Queensland Government is continuing its commitment to ensure that every Queenslander has access to a safe, secure, and affordable home that meets their needs and enables participation in the social and economic life of this prosperous state.
To meet this objective, the government launched its new whole-of-system housing plan, Homes for Queenslanders. As part of this plan, the government is making a $3.1 billion investment into housing and homelessness initiatives.
Homes for Queenslanders is centred around 5 key pillars:
Build more homes, faster
More Queensland homes need to be built, in the right locations, and they need to be built faster. Homes for Queenslanders includes a target of one million new homes by 2046, including 53,500 new social homes. With 95 per cent of the state’s housing supply being delivered by the private sector, collaboration among government, the private sector and the community sector is needed to reach this goal.
Initiatives include:
- a $350 million fund to incentivise infill development to support delivery of new housing in the right locations
- a new state facilitated development team to streamline decisions and quickly resolve planning and infrastructure issues delaying new homes, including social and affordable homes
- $12.5 million of targeted, needs-based funding for local governments to facilitate strategic planning and updating of their planning schemes
- a new Distinctly Queensland Design Series, which will provide clear requirements, that when met, expedite the delivery of new homes with a focus on gentle density products that are viable.
Support Queensland renters
As Queensland changes, so too does our housing system. More people are renting – and for longer than ever before. The Queensland Government is supporting renters with reforms to improve the experience of renting, as well as products and services to help renters who are struggling.
Initiatives include:
- a $160 million Renters Relief Package to give more households immediate cost-of-living support while new homes are being built, including help to pay bonds and rent
- reforming rental laws to protect renters’ rights, including banning all forms of rent bidding.
Help first homeowners into the market
Over the past 8 years, the government has supported 69,000 first home buyers with homeowner grants.
To support more first homeowners, the grant has been doubled to $30,000 for new homes until 30 June 2025. This is the equal most generous scheme in the country. By targeting it at new homes, the government also encourages more supply into the market to make housing more affordable in the long term.
The Queensland Government is committed to make the housing system fairer and close the gap for First Nations peoples in urban, regional, and remote areas. Backed by a $61.3 million investment, the Our Place Action Plan brings together a suite of actions that address systemic challenges and respond to the unique cultural strengths, values, and priorities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Queensland.
Other initiatives include:
- supporting social housing tenants to own their own home through the Sales to Tenants program
- working with the Australian Government to implement the Help to Buy scheme, which will make it easier for up to 40,000 low and middle income families around Australia to buy a home
- supporting Queenslanders in regional and remote locations by temporarily raising the income eligibility threshold for the Queensland Housing Finance Loan.
The 2024–25 Budget also includes new revenue initiatives aimed at providing relief for first home buyers. Eligibility for the transfer duty first home concession will be extended to homes with a dutiable value up to $800,000, increased from $550,000 currently. First home buyers will pay no duty on homes valued up to $700,000 and will receive a partial concession up to $800,000.
In addition, eligibility for the transfer duty first home vacant land concession will be extended to vacant land with a dutiable value up to $500,000, increased from $400,000 currently.
These changes will increase the maximum value of the first home concession by $8,600 (to a total of $17,350) and the maximum value of the first home vacant land concession by $3,500 (to a total of $10,675).
It is estimated the changes to the first home buyer concessions will benefit around 10,000 first home buyers per year.
Boost our social housing Big Build
The Queensland Government has set a bold social housing delivery target of 53,500 homes by 2046. Through this target, the needs of vulnerable Queenslanders are being addressed with a pipeline of:
- 8 new youth foyers to provide stable housing and support for young people who are studying or working
- 10 new or replaced domestic and family violence shelters to provide immediate safety and protection for women and children
- 1,200 social homes for First Nations families through partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander local government authorities and communities
- more supported accommodation places across the state for people experiencing homelessness.
The Queensland Government will continue to work with the Australian Government and the community housing sector to deliver the homes Queenslanders need.
Work towards ending homelessness
Homes for Queenslanders strengthens the safety net the Queensland Government has put in place to help Queenslanders avoid homelessness. The Queensland Government is ramping up its efforts with more funding for specialist homelessness services, more emergency accommodation in the regions, and more help for First Nations peoples and young people.
The Queensland Government is backing frontline specialist homelessness services with a 20 per cent funding boost to increase their capacity while an independent review of the state’s overall homelessness response is undertaken.
For more information about Homes for Queenslanders, please visit the website www.housing.qld.gov.au/homesforqueenslanders.
English