Public housing furore

BRISBANE and Ipswich tenants are the first to sign a state-wide petition against the Queensland Government's proposal to fix the state's public housing crisis.

The government is asking tenants with spare rooms to move to smaller properties, share with a stranger or pay extra rent.

It is also giving them a July 27 deadline to declare extra people living at their property.

Housing minister Bruce Flegg said there were 30,000 applications on the waiting list and current figures indicated the social housing system was headed towards a $140 million deficit by 2015-2016.

"We are now considering a range of reforms to address the current crisis, but we can't do it alone," he said.

"One of the first issues we need to address is under-occupancy.

"We estimate there are more than 8700 public housing properties that have two or more additional bedrooms that are not needed by occupants."

Inala resident Connie Dailey, 71, has lived in public housing for the past 50 years.

Her three-bedroom home holds much sentimental value to her.

It is where her husband died and where she wanted to die.

"I'll move out but only if the government gives me what I require - which is a two bedroom home," she said.

"I have ill-health and often need a carer to stay overnight and they won't be staying in my bed."

Opposition Leader and Member for Inala Annastacia Palaszczuk said alarm had spread through the public housing system.

"In recent weeks I have been meeting with concerned public housing tenants and tenant representatives in Brisbane and regional areas who are very worried," she said.

Opposition Health Minister and Member for Bundamba Jo-Ann Miller, who has also been meeting concerned tenants, said many public housing tenants were elderly, others were people with a disability.

"This kind of uncertainty or instability will turn their lives upside down," she said.