Queensland Deputy Premier Asked Developers to Remove Affordable Housing from Applications
Queensland Deputy Premier and Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie wrote to two developers in May 2026, requesting they remove affordable housing components from their State Facilitated Development applications, resulting in the loss of 586 planned affordable homes. The requests followed the LNP government's March decision to scrap a former Labor requirement mandating at least 15 per cent affordable housing in such developments. The move has drawn criticism from the opposition, housing advocates, and the Gold Coast mayor, who argue it worsens an already acute affordability crisis.
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie wrote to Marketplace Developments and Walker Group in May 2026, asking them to remove affordable housing from their respective State Facilitated Development (SFD) applications in Lutwyche, Brisbane, and Robina/Merrimac on the Gold Coast. The Lutwyche project lost 36 affordable units from a 240-dwelling development, while the Gold Coast's Lakesview project — approved by the state on Tuesday — saw 550 affordable homes removed from what is now a 2,500-dwelling development. Both developers complied, with Walker Group stating the change would 'unlock the project and get housing started sooner.' The SFD program was introduced by the former Labor government in 2024 to fast-track planning approvals, and previously required at least 15 per cent affordable housing; the LNP removed that mandate in March following recommendations from the state's productivity commissioner. Bleijie defended the approach by arguing that increasing overall housing supply would drive affordability, saying 'availability equals affordability,' while Opposition Leader Steven Miles called the letters 'an extraordinary abuse of power.' Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate called on the government to specify where replacement affordable housing would be built, citing teachers living in cars, while housing advocates including Anglicare Australia and the Queensland Council of Social Services warned the decision contradicts the urgent need for affordable homes for frontline workers and vulnerable residents.
What's missing
The specific findings of the state productivity commissioner's report that underpinned the policy change have not been detailed in either source.
How coverage differed
Both outlets reported the core facts similarly and with comparable neutrality. The ABC gave slightly more prominence to the Gold Coast mayor's response and Anglicare Australia's criticism, while the Sydney Morning Herald provided more detail on the Lutwyche project and included comment from the developer James Rennell and the Queensland Council of Social Services.
What different sources said
- Sydney Morning HeraldCenter
Deputy premier tells developers to remove affordable housing from applications
- ABC AustraliaCenter
Gold Coast mayor questions axing of more than 500 affordable homes
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