The panel, which is the first of its type in Australia (at a state level), will provide transparent, independent advice to the government about how to measure, report on and address land supply, development and housing affordability issues in South East Queensland - a region that will house another two million people by 2041, requiring nearly another 800,000 dwellings.

Julie Saunders said the panel’s role was crucial in providing independent advice on growth in South East Queensland, with the issue of housing supply a very important one for the state, and indeed Australia.

“The creation of this panel is a great initiative. It’s the only one in existence at the moment from a state perspective,” Saunders said.

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Julie Saunders, who will head up the new housing supply expert panel. Image supplied by Knight Frank Australia.

“The relationship between supply and affordability is going to be of growing importance going forward,” she said.

“As South East Queensland continues to grow, it is extremely important we become more sophisticated at monitoring and adapting our policies to ensure adequate supply is available.

“The work the Department is undertaking in the land supply monitoring space is leading edge, and one that other states are going to watch, as housing supply is an issue all around Australia," she said.

Saunders brings a wealth of experience to her role as panel Chair, with a career in town planning spanning 30 years, before a move into the commercial property industry, into a role as Associate Director of Commercial Sales with Knight Frank.

“I have spent many decades planning for communities to ensure there is adequate supply and a diversity of housing choice, and I’m passionate about it,” she told WILLIAMS MEDIA.

“I’m honoured to have been appointed to the role, and to bring my many decades of experience to provide independent advice to the Government.”

Saunders will chair the panel alongside eight other high-calibre professionals from across the property, planning, economics and demography disciplines, and from around Australia.

“We’re an independent panel of experts, and our diverse range of skills will help us to come together to provide invaluable wisdom for the State Government on the issue of housing supply,” she said.

The establishment of the panel is in response to a joint submission from the Property Council of Australia and the Queensland Council of Social Services, on the draft South East Queensland Regional Plan 2017, Shaping SEQ.

The submission made the case for an independent agency to be established to monitor land supply and development to match population growth.

Ben McGrath, Knight Frank Partner and Head of Queensland Institutional Sales, said it was fantastic to see Ms Saunders appointed as Chair of the housing supply panel.

“We are thrilled to have a representative from Knight Frank on the panel, and we congratulate Julie on the appointment,” he said.

“Julie is an expert in her field and will provide invaluable advice on housing supply in Queensland. We look forward to seeing the results of the panel’s collaboration.”

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