Queensland Budget 2025: The first buyer in the hotel is linked to Australia’s most generous shared equity plan

The measures announced today for Queensland’s 2025-26 budget include investments in home ownership, housing infrastructure and new social and community housing, aiming to provide more Queenslanders with a place to call home.

Prime Minister David Crisafulli said the budget is working to ensure Queensland has the highest housing foundation in the country with the highest home ownership over the next decade.

“We are providing practical support to unlock home ownership in young and indigenous communities in Queensland while building more homes in every corner of our state,” he said.

Over the next two decades, $8.1 billion will be invested to help lay the foundation for delivering one million new homes over the next two decades.

Enhance the gift

A new state-leading home ownership plan was announced to help reduce the deposit gap for first buyers and increase the $165 million purchase plan.

The program provides up to 30% equity contributions to new homes, with existing homes selling at up to $1 million, earning households with $225,000 or less.

The driving force behind the purchase program was home buyers’ grants, which also received $30,000 in growth until June 2026.

Antonia Mercorella, CEO of the Queensland Real Estate Institute, praised the expansion of enhanced purchase plans, timely and timely matching market conditions and helping more Queenslanders achieve home ownership.

“We call for an expansion of access to shared interests because we know that high deposit barriers prevent aspiring buyers from entering the property ladder,” she said.

She said the income eligibility threshold reflects the modern real estate prices in Queensland, making it the most attractive nationwide.

“In Greater Brisbane, the median house price per year is $895,000 and $1.21 million in Brisbane LGA,” she said.

“Even for units, the annual unit prices for the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast are $770,000 and $735,000, respectively.

“The spacious ceiling ensures that the program is relevant in every corner of our state, including high demand areas such as Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, where median house prices are now above $1 million.

“Without this adjustment, the program has the potential to keep in touch with the reality faced by many first-time home buyers today.”

Australia’s real estate investment professional Nicola McDougall said the budget shows that Queenslanders who acquire property ownership are the forefront and center and praised pragmatic and market-aligned initiatives.

“It is clear that the Queensland government is serious about resolving the housing crisis and helping more young people gain ownership of property, given that the property prices and income thresholds for the new enhancement program are more aligned with market and economic reality,” she said.

Simplified pre-Gratia process to support housing delivery

Reiq welcomes plans to simplify the former Gratia relief process for Queensland income for foreign-owned foreign housing projects to provide economic or community benefits.

“When housing projects are in the public interest testing, whether by enhancing community outcomes or increasing much-needed housing stock, exempting punitive surcharges should be a simple and quick process,” Ms Mercorella said.

“Foreign entities have played a role in providing new housing supplies. Until now, Ex Gratia relief has been available, but the process has been slow and uncertain, which is not feasible for many projects.

“Today’s commitment to reform and fast tracking to budget is an encouraging step, which will drive funding to Queensland and help more housing projects.”

Other measures have been announced

The $2 billion residential activation fund was also announced, which will be used to quickly critical infrastructure needed for housing, unlocking critical realization infrastructure and accelerating new housing developments across the state.

Deputy Prime Minister Jarrod Bleijie said the fund will unlock thousands of new homes in Queensland.

“We are unlocking the land for housing and delivering the critical infrastructure needed to get new homes off the ground faster,” he said.

“We are providing funds to support shovel-ready projects to help build homes faster.”

Looking forward to the next step

Mike Roberts, executive director of the Queensland-based Housing Industry Association, said that while additional funding and opportunities to help new home buyers enter housing, supply issues remain.

“The funding to assist social housing is necessary and welcome, but ultimately, it is the private sector that will build most of the housing needed to meet the growing demand in Queensland,” Roberts said.

“The government needs to keep moving forward and do everything possible to promote the increase in housing supply.”

Ms Mercorella said the supply crisis remains Queensland’s most pressing housing challenge, and stamp duty reform remains high on Reiq’s wish list.

“The long-term policy direction of REIQ is to transition in phases from first-time home buyers to a land tax-based model, and stamp duty for landers over 55 to homes with fewer bedrooms or retirement homes,” she said.

Ms McDougall said she welcomed the opportunity to discuss policies that would not only encourage more real estate investors to enter the market, but also motivate them to support a stable supply of rental accommodation throughout Sunshine State in the long run.

“Eliminating stamp duty differences between owners and investors and updating the land tax threshold to fit today’s value will be a simple but powerful next step,” she said.