Brisbane South West branch
The cost of housing is looming as a major issue in all elections next year. Some people have profited massively from the recent housing boom, but many more have been left behind, and appear unlikely to ever be able to afford to own their homes.
Rents have also risen. A recently released Queensland report documents increased homelessness, the unaffordability of rental accommodation and declining supported accommodation. In this context, the Labor state government’s policy is reprehensible.
The Queensland government is actually selling off public housing: there are now 2000 fewer public homes in Queensland than two years ago. Money has gone into public housing areas to do up homes, but in many instances this hasn’t been for the benefit of the residents.
The government has sold homes, in particular in Brisbane’s western suburb of Inala, to real estate firms such as Liberty homes who buy them at well below market value then offer the residents the "opportunity" to buy their homes back - at market price. In Inala that’s around $180,000 - an impossible amount for many people who have lived in the community for most of their lives).
The Brisbane South West SA branch, based in Inala, has begun campaigning around this issue. The two-fold response has been significant.
First, the issue cuts with ordinary people. Locals are appalled at what the government is doing or threatening to do to their homes and community. Those who stop at the shopping centre to sign our petition frequently comment that the Labor Party is lazy and that is fantastic that SA will be standing against them in the election.
The other response we’ve received has been more akin to the era of Joh Bjelke Peterson. Local SA state election candidate Adrian Skerritt was arrested and handcuffed for asking people to sign the petition and giving them a leaflet about SA’s election campaign. The arrest was made in an outdoors public space where Alliance and other local peace group members have routinely petitioned and handed out anti-war leaflets all year. It seems, however, that such freedom of speech is not afforded to those directly criticising the Labor Party.
In Queensland, One Nation, or another version of it, represents a real risk at the next elections. It is crucial that socialists and other left activists are on the ground in our communities talking to people about the local issues that are affecting them and presenting a positive alternative to Labor.