On Wednesday, 22 July 2026 estimates hearings in respect of the State Development, Infrastructure and Works Committee took place.
I asked the Director General of the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning how much freehold land across Queensland is currently vacant.
You can read our full exchange below or in the official Parliamentary record of proceedings here.
Mr SPEAKER: We will go to the crossbench. Member for Maiwar, do you have a question?
Mr BERKMAN: I do. My question is to the director-general. Are you able to tell us how much freehold land in Queensland is currently vacant by both the area and the number of properties? If possible, can you break that down by residential and commercial land?
Mr Ferris: I thank the member for the question. That question around the percentage of land across the state in terms of it being freehold would be a question best directed to Minister Last in his portfolio at a later estimates. They are responsible for the management of freehold and leasehold land and unallocated state land across the state of Queensland.
Mr BERKMAN: I appreciate that, but that is not information—
Mr SPEAKER: Member for Maiwar, wait until you get the call. Member for Maiwar, do you have another question?
Mr BERKMAN: Yes. Director-General, I understand that that responsibility formally sits with an alternative department, but is that not information that is held by and of great use to the planning department in executing its functions as the planning department?
Mr BLEIJIE: Point of order: the acting director-general has said it is not our portfolio responsibility so he cannot be asked now for his opinion on a matter that the member can ask another minister when they are at estimates.
Mr SPEAKER: That is a valid point. You cannot ask an opinion of government officials.
Mr BERKMAN: Sorry. The first part of the question was: is that not information that the department has?
Mr SPEAKER: Okay, that is fair enough.
Dr ROWAN: Point of order: again, in relation to the previous point of order that has already been raised, this sits within another portfolio area. There has already been a response provided to that effect, and there was an opinion that was asked for as well.
Mr SPEAKER: Which I ruled out. I think the director-general has already responded, but I will allow the director-general to respond to the question.
Mr Ferris: My original answer remains. That is a question for the department of natural resources, mines, rural and regional development. My counterpart director-general will take offence at me potentially getting the name of his department incorrect there, and I do apologise to Graham Fraine. Having come from that department, I do have familiarity with that portfolio, and that question is best asked of Minister Last.
Mr SPEAKER: Member for Maiwar, do you have another question?
Mr BERKMAN: I am happy to move on given the paucity of time. It is quite staggering that the department would not be paying close attention to it.