Thousands of Queenslanders will be at risk of being unable to keep a roof over their heads when a federal subsidy scheme winds up, the state's housing minister warns.
On the eve of the Queensland government's housing crisis summit, Housing Minister Leeanne Enoch has called for the federal government to keep the National Rental Affordability Scheme
The scheme, which provides subsidies to housing providers who offer homes for rent at 20 per cent below market rates, is due to end in 2026.
Ms Enoch says that will result in about 10,000 Queensland rentals becoming less affordable.
"That is a major risk factor in terms of people's ability to afford the rent and to be able to keep that roof over their heads," she told reporters on Wednesday.
The previous Abbott coalition federal government axed the scheme in 2014, with subsidies to end for properties in the program over the next four years.
Ms Enoch has been speaking with her Labor counterpart Julie Collins about the need for the federal government to continue subsidising rent.
"I know that Ms Collins is very open to conversations, but I have continued to call on NRAS or an NRAS-like program to be able to support people in Queensland," she said.
Meanwhile, the Liberal National opposition said the housing crisis had been exacerbated by the state government's failure to unlock enough land for new buildings.
In the southeast, annual residential lot approvals fell to just under 15,000 in 2021, from about 20,000 in 2015, according to government data.
"The Palaszczuk government must explain why residential lot approvals have fallen so sharply as the population increased on their watch," LNP Deputy Leader Jarrod Bleijie told reporters.
When asked about residential lot approvals, Ms Enoch said she wasn't across the numbers.
But she pointed to measures the government had taken to free up more housing, including allowing homeowners to add their granny flats to the rental market.
Local governments also had a role to play by releasing more land for residential lots, the minister added.
