DEPUTY Premier Jarrod Bleijie has reignited interstate rivalry by joking that Queensland’s population growth was being fuelled by people fleeing the “People’s Republic of Victoria”.
Mr Bleijie made the remark during a media conference in Southern Thornlands while discussing the State Government’s $2.4 billion housing infrastructure deal aimed at unlocking 51,000 new homes across Queensland.
Asked about transport infrastructure and population growth pressures linked to new Priority Development Areas, Mr Bleijie said Queensland continued to attract strong interstate migration because of its lifestyle and economic opportunities.
“The reality is you’ve got to do all at the same time,” he said.
“People want to live in Queensland. We’ve got an influx of people leaving the People’s Republic of Victoria. They are wanting to come to Queensland.”
Mr Bleijie then contrasted Queensland’s climate and economy with Victoria’s.
“Generally it’s sunny and shiny, but what’s always sunny and shiny in Queensland is the government and the economic opportunity that the new government is offering the people of Australia to look to Queensland and say we want to invest and we want to not only invest, we want to move our families up here and get a job and build a home in Queensland,” he said.
The comments came as the Crisafulli Government announced a major funding partnership with the Federal Government to support infrastructure for new housing developments in Southern Thornlands, Waraba and Mount Peter.
The deal includes nearly $800 million in grants and $1.6 billion in concessional loans for trunk infrastructure, with at least 20,000 homes earmarked for first home buyers.
Mr Bleijie repeatedly described the government’s approach as “supply, supply, supply” and “fast, fast, fast”.
“Our policy is about land release, getting houses built out of the ground,” he said.
“Build baby build.”
Queensland has continued to record strong interstate migration in recent years, with many new residents arriving from Victoria and New South Wales seeking lifestyle changes and more affordable housing options.
