Why One Sunshine Coast Man’s Call for Government Seizure of Unused Land Misses the Mark—And Common Sense.
A recent email highlighted an unusual petition presented to the Queensland Parliament, titled “Land, Use It or Lose It.” This petition, proposed by a man from the Sunshine Coast, suggests that the government should take over unused parcels of land. He proposes to give landowners one year to start building on their properties; if they fail to do so, the government should reclaim the land at the original purchase price.
It’s important to note that this petition concerns privately owned land—land that has been legally purchased, with council rates paid annually, and owned by individuals and companies across Queensland. As of now, just over 400 Queenslanders have supported this petition, which seems to advocate for a form of government intervention that many would consider extreme (Communist).
The petition reads:
TO: The Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland
Queensland citizens draw to the attention of the House that there is an extraordinary housing crisis in Queensland. This is exacerbated by people and companies buying blocks of land and not using them so that the price of the land increases hugely. An example is a block next to the member’s office in Caloundra, it has been empty and unused for most of this century. Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to resume unused blocks of land; give the owners a year to begin building on the land and if they fail to do that resume the land for the price paid by the owner.
The Fallacy.
The proposal reflects a misunderstanding of land ownership and economic principles. Why do people think it’s acceptable to dictate what others do with their property? Is it a matter of jealousy or a misplaced sense of fairness?
Current landowners might prefer to keep their properties vacant for various reasons, including financial constraints or the lack of available resources to build. They might also have no intention of constructing rental properties to address the housing crisis. Furthermore, challenges such as obtaining financing and finding available tradespeople can complicate development efforts.
The petition’s author appears to misunderstand why land values fluctuate. He attributes rising property prices solely to landowners not “using” their land, ignoring broader economic factors. For instance, Australian currency inflation, driven by government spending, impacts property values. Comparing property prices to other assets like gold could provide a clearer perspective. The issue lies not with landowners but with the broader economic environment and the policies affecting currency value.
Ultimately, this petition seems both impractical and wasteful. If implemented, it could lead to unnecessary expenditure of taxpayer funds and may be easily circumvented through development applications or other loopholes.
You can find the petition on the Queensland Parliament website, but please, for the love of common sense, don’t sign it—unless you’re secretly rooting for a reality show where parliamentarians wrestle over absurd ideas!
John E Middleclass.