Department of Housing and Public Works

The Department of Housing and Public Works (HPW) is a ministerial department within the Queensland Government, tasked with providing housing (including homelessness and building standards), sport, digital technology, and urban design and architecture services to Queensland individuals and businesses.[7][8][9][10][11] HPW is also responsible for providing procurement, office space and digital services to Queensland Government departments (including 27 ongoing services through Queensland Shared Services).[12][13][14][15]

Department of Housing and Public Works
A department of the Queensland Government
Department overview
JurisdictionQueensland, Australia
Headquarters1 William Street, Brisbane[1]
Employees 5,436 (2019)[2]
Annual budget A$1.365 billion (2019–20)[3][4]
Minister responsible
Department executive
  • Liza Carroll, Director-General[6]
Child agencies
Websitehpw.qld.gov.au

Executive leadership and structure

Minister for Housing and Public Works
Main article: Mick de Brenni

HPW is overseen by its Minister, Hon Mick de Brenni, the member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Springwood. He represents the Australian Labor Party. In addition, he is also the Minister for Digital Technology and Minister for Sport, and has held these three ministerial roles since 12 December 2017.[5] In his roles, the Minister is also responsible for: Stadiums Queensland, the Residential Tenancies Authority, the Queensland Building Construction Commission, the Board of Professional Engineers, and the Board of Architects.[16]

Director-General

The department is run day-to-day under the leadership of its Director-General, Liza Carrol. Having started the role of Director-General on 3 August 2015, Carrol formerly held the role of Associate Secretary (Head of Indigenous Affairs) for the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and before that, the Deputy Secretary for the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Carrol holds a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Education (Hons), majoring in Sociology. Carrol was also awarded the Public Service Medal for her work on the "Ahead of the Game: Blueprint for Reform in the Australian Public Service" project.[6][17]

Leadership structure

Under the Minister and the Director-General, HPW has three Deputy Director-Generals (Housing, Homelessness and Sport; Building Policy and Asset Management; Portfolio Strategy), an Assistant Director-General, and the Chief Customer and Digital Officer, as well as a Transition Advisor. The Deputy Director-General (Portfolio Strategy) also operates as the Chief Advisor Queensland Government Procurement. The other two Deputy Director-Generals (Housing, Homelessness and Sport; Building Policy and Asset Management) are also supported by their own Assistant Director-General.[16]

Queensland Shared Services

Queensland Shared Services (QSS) is an agency within HPW that provides whole-of-government support and services. QSS supports departments by operating public and internally facing services such as government human resources (including payroll), finance, procurement, telecommunications, and mail services.[15] QSS provides services to 27 of the 29 Queensland Government departments, excluding only Education Queensland and Queensland Health.[14] Resident-facing services, such as the 13 QGOV (13 74 68) phone number and the Queensland Government website, are managed by a division within QSS called Smart Service Queensland.[18][19] QSS is part of the Queensland Government Consumer and Digital Group within HPW.[20]

QFleet

QFleet is the Queensland Government's vehicle fleet management agency, lying within HPW. QFleet provides vehicle procurement, sales, leasing, maintenance, safety, and policy services to Queensland Government departments, and government-funded entities such as statutory authorities, government owned corporations, some local governments, and some not-for-profit organisations.[21]

Queensland State Archives
Main article: Queensland State Archives

The Queensland State Archives are the governance and culture archives of all of Queensland. Queensland State Archives is part of the Queensland Government Consumer and Digital Group within HPW.[20]

Responsibilities

Housing and homelessness

HPW, hinted by its name, is primarily responsible for housing and homelessness services throughout Queensland. They provide commercial renting and tenancy support, crisis accommodation and state housing services through the Queensland Government's Service Centres in Brisbane, Cairns and Maroochydore. In more regional areas, HPW provides their services through their own Housing Service Centres.[7][22]

Public works

Through internal agencies, like Queensland Shared Services and QFleet,[12] HPW is also responsible for providing support to Queensland Government agencies, including procurement support.[13]

Other

HPW is also responsible for other elements of governance, often in collaboration with other departments, agencies, and authorities. These governing responsibilities include:

  • sport and recreation[9]
  • building and plumbing[8]
  • digital services[10]
  • urban design and architecture[11]

Beyond this, HPW also administrative and consumer services to the Queensland Government. These services include Smart Service Queensland and the Queensland State Archives.[20]

Legislation

HPW is responsible for administrating various articles of state-wide legislation, and for supporting industries and individuals in complying with legislation. These include the:

  • Housing Act 2003[23]
    • Housing Regulations 2015
  • Major Sport Facilities Act 2001[23]
    • Major Sports Facilities Regulation 2014
  • Mt. Gravatt Showgrounds Act 1988[23]
  • Sports Anti-Doping Act 2003[23]
  • Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018[24]
    • Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2019
  • Housing Legislation (Building Better Futures) Amendment Act 2017[25]

Housing Legislation (Building Better Futures) Amendment Act 2017

The Housing Legislation (Building Better Futures) Amendment Act 2017 includes amendments to several acts, for which HPW is responsible for providing support to the relevant industries. The acts amended are:

  • Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) Act 2003[25]
  • Residential Services (Accreditation) Act 2002[26]
    • Residential Services (Accreditation) Regulation 2018
  • Retirement Villages Act 1999[27]
  • Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008[28]

History

1862
Old Government House

The Lands and Works Department was created in 1862.[29]

1866

In 1866, the Lands and Works Department was divided into the Lands Department and the Public Works Department.[29]

1887

The Public Works Department merges with the Mines Department.[29]

1890

The Public Works Department was established from the former Mines and Works Department.[29]

1909

The early 20th century marks the Queensland Government's first involvement in housing when it introduces The Workers' Dwellings Act 1909 to provide subsidised housing for workers.[29]

The Workers' Dwelling Branch is established shortly after and is responsible for lending money and providing house construction expertise to Queenslanders.[29]

1911

In Queensland's early years, the Workers' Dwelling Act 1909 financed the construction of basic four to six-room dwellings.[30]

1920

The Workers' Dwellings Branch was transferred to the State Advances Corporation.[29]

1939

Australia was at war from 1939 to 1945. During this time, Townsville became a major military base for both Australian and overseas Armed Forces. It was therefore deemed necessary for Public Works staff to relocate to the area to assist with defence projects. Substantial quantities of materials were required for these projects and procurement and transportation was rapid. As a result, the department becomes heavily involved in defence projects including the construction of the Garbutt Air Base, large warehouses at depots at Macrossan and Breddan, and a military hospital at Blackwater.[29] The department was also involved in procuring and sending food supplies.[31] The Department of Public Works' Townsville office becomes the epicentre for the department's work during World War II.

As the war escalated, Townsville was deemed too dangerous for Works staff due to the imminent risk of bombing and invasion. It was decided therefore that offices were to be moved to Charters Towers. Staff remained there for several months. On the night of their return to Townsville, Japanese bombs were dropped on the city. No lives were lost and structural damage was minimal.[31]

1945

Post-war reconstruction including housing provision was a top priority for the State and Commonwealth Governments. In 1945, Queensland Premier Frank Cooper signed the Commonwealth and State Housing Agreement with the five other states. The Commonwealth Government's increased contribution was recognition that housing had become a national problem and heralded the beginning of significant federal-state involvement in Australian housing policy and public rental home construction. A few days later, the Queensland Housing Commission was established.[32]

1947

To meet the demand for housing, the Queensland Housing Commission started building the State's first rental homes.[33]

1970

During the next three decades, the Queensland Housing Commission faced a changing Queensland population.[29]

With alterations to the Family Law Act introducing no-fault divorce, the 1970s saw movement away from the nuclear family with a growing number of single parent households. An increasing number of households were of people living alone, older people or people with a disability, all with special housing needs which had to be considered.[29]

To meet changing client demand, the Commission branched out from large estate developments to unit blocks and attached houses.[29]

1975

Design begins on the most significant group of public buildings ever completed by the state – the Queensland Cultural Centre.[29]

The Queensland Cabinet initially asks the Public Works Department to investigate the feasibility and construction cost of a new art gallery to replace the state's aging gallery in Bowen Bridge Road. The site nominated for the building is on the South Bank of the Brisbane River.[29]

By January 1975 the project has expanded to include not only the Art Gallery but also a Performing Arts Centre, Museum and State Library. Together these buildings become known as the Queensland Cultural Centre.[29]

1989

The Administrative Services Department is established which includes the former Public Works Department. In the same year, the Department of Housing and Local Government is formed. This department becomes the face of housing provision in Queensland. While the Commission continues to exist as a legal entity for almost another 15 years, the creation of the department sees the emergence of a whole new philosophy of service provision.[29]

1992

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Planning is formed. Responsibility for the Aboriginal Rental Housing program transfers to the Queensland Department of Housing, Local Government and Planning.[29]

1996

The Public Works and Housing Department is formed.[29]

1998

The Public Works and Housing Department separates into two portfolios. The Department of Housing is formed as a single entity dedicated to meeting Queensland's housing needs. This reinforces the importance of housing for Queenslanders as the cornerstone for a healthier and more stable life.[29]

The Smart Housing initiative was introduced.[29] The Community Renewal program was established.[29]

2001

The department wins the Royal Australian Institute of Architects' Harry Marks Sustainable Architectural Award for the design of Redcliffe City Council library and gallery.[29]

2002

QFleet won the Australasian Fleet Managers Association (AFMA) 2002 Fleet Environment Award for its ongoing corporate fleet environment practices. QFleet also became the first organisation to receive all three of AFMA's major industry awards, also winning the Fleet Safety Award and later the Fleet Manager of the Year award.[29]

In the same year, the Department of Public Works was recognised for its heritage conservation efforts with a gold award, the John Herbert Heritage Award from the National Trust of Queensland for the restoration of the 173-year-old convict-built Commissariat Store in William Street, Brisbane.[29]

2003

So in 2003, after many years of development and consultation, new housing legislation was tabled in Parliament to replace the obsolete State Housing Act 1945 and to provide a modern basis for the Department of Housing's activities. In January 2004, the Housing Act 2003 took effect and officially marked the end of 58 years of the Queensland Housing Commission.[34]

The legislation was a turning point that provided an opportunity to reflect on close to 60 years of hard work, innovation and commitment to meeting housing need in Queensland, through times of hardship and prosperity. It also allowed the department to embrace the changing direction its activities had taken and to pursue new partnerships and solutions.[34]

2005

The department assumes a leadership role for the Queensland Government's four-year Responding to Homelessness initiative after earlier leading work aimed at improving cross-agency responses to homelessness.[29]

2008

The department commences RentConnect, and becomes the Queensland conduit for the National Rental Affordability Scheme, a Federal and State Government initiative to stimulate the supply of 50,000 new affordable rental dwellings across Australia.[29]

2012

The Department of Housing and Public Works is formed from the previous departments of Housing and Public Works.[29]

References
  1. "Our locations" (PDF). Department of Housing and Public Works. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  2. "Annual Report 2018-19" (PDF). Department of Housing and Public Works. 13 September 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  3. "Appropriation Act 2019". Queensland Legislation. 5 September 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  4. "Appropriation Act 2018". Queensland Legislation. 29 August 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  5. "Member Details – Hon Michael (Mick) de Brenni". Queensland Parliament. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  6. "Executive leadership". Department of Housing and Public Works. 17 March 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  7. "Housing and homelessness". Department of Housing and Public Works. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  8. "Building and plumbing". Department of Housing and Public Works. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  9. "Sport and recreation". Department of Housing and Public Works. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  10. "Digital". Department of Housing and Public Works. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  11. "Urban design and architecture". Department of Housing and Public Works. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  12. "Services for government". Department of Housing and Public Works. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  13. "Procurement". Department of Housing and Public Works. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  14. "Contact Queensland Shared Services". Queensland Shared Services. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  15. "About us". Queensland Shared Services. 19 May 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  16. "Organisational chart". Department of Housing and Public Works. 31 March 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  17. Palaszczuk, Annastacia (5 June 2015). "Premier welcomes DG appointments". Queensland Cabinet and Ministerial Directory. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  18. "Provide services through 13 QGOV (13 74 68)". Smart Services Queensland. 29 January 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  19. "About the Queensland Government website". Smart Service Queensland. 28 April 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  20. "Queensland Government Consumer and Digital Group". Department of Housing and Public Works. 20 April 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  21. "QFleet". Department of Housing and Public Works. 28 January 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  22. "Contact a Housing Service Centre". Department of Housing and Public Works. 12 April 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  23. "Current legislation". Department of Housing and Public Works. 29 November 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  24. "Plumbing legislation changes". Department of Housing and Public Transport. 14 February 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  25. "Manufactured homes legislation changes". Department of Housing and Public Works. 29 November 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  26. "Residential services legislation changes". Department of Housing and Public Works. 29 November 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  27. "Retirement villages legislation changes". Department of Housing and Public Works. 29 November 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  28. "Residential tenancy and rooming accommodation legislation changes". Department of Housing and Public Works. 29 November 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  29. "Department of Housing and Public Words: Our History". State of Queensland. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  30. "Department of Housing and Public Works: Our History: 1911". State of Queensland. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  31. "Department of Housing and Public Works: Our History: 1939". State of Queensland. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  32. "Department of Housing and Public Works: Our History: 1945". State of Queensland. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  33. "Department of Housing and Public Works: Our History: 1947". State of Queensland. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  34. "Department of Housing and Public Works: Our History: 2003". State of Queensland. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
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