Queensland Premier Steven Miles announced the expanded responsibilities for Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon in Albion on Sunday, as he announced $3 million for Orange Sky, a charity that provides laundry services for the homeless, to establish a permanent headquarters.
Ms Scanlon will have an expanded role in government, working closely with Mr Miles to increase the supply of homes in the private housing market. She said the expanded role would enable her to work more effectively with local government and the property industry to deliver more homes.
Meaghan Alana Jenkins Scanlon, 30, is a lawyer and the only Gold Coast MLA elected by the Labor government. She is the youngest woman in Queensland Parliament and currently serves as Queensland's Minister for Housing.
Housing Problems and Solutions
Miles stressed the importance of integrating planning and local government into the housing sector, as local governments play a key role in the housing supply approval process. He said this move would give Minister Scanlon more tools to deliver housing for Queenslanders. Minister Scanlon pledged to focus on making decisions quickly, releasing more affordable homes in good locations, supporting tenants, and working to end homelessness.
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said Queenslanders' housing problems should be given more attention than the job changes of politicians.
Orange Sky
Orange Sky's charitable work: Since its founding in Brisbane in 2014, Orange Sky has provided laundry and shower services to homeless people, helping them maintain basic dignity. Lucas Patchett, co-founder of Orange Sky, said the new headquarters will serve as a base for its operations in Australia and New Zealand, with significant impact on its services in Queensland this year. Orange Sky has provided over 86,000 loads of laundry, 8,000 showers, and 84,000 hours of genuine conversation to homeless people, helping them maintain their basic humanity and dignity.
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