Brisbane’s median rental asking price for houses rose 16.9 per cent in 12 months, while for units it rose 12.5 per cent. By comparison, Sydney experienced increases of 12.7 per cent and 11.7 per cent respectively, although from a higher base.

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In Brisbane, quarterly figures saw median house rental prices go from $445 in June last year to $520 this year, while unit rentals went from $400 to $450 in the same period.

An analysis of the rest of Queensland found the median rent for both houses and units is now higher than those in regional areas in other states and territories, after the asking price for houses rose 19.1 per cent in 12 months.

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This week, Queensland Auditor-General Brendan Worrall found the Palaszczuk government was not building enough social and affordable housing, keeping an accurate waiting list, or managing existing stock properly.

On Wednesday, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk blamed the crisis on higher interstate migration, supply shortages in the private housing market, and inflation.

“We’re building houses as quickly as we can, but we also have to compete with the private market,” she said.

Defending her government’s efforts to increase social housing stock, Palaszczuk said pressure on housing was occurring nationwide.

“Everybody is feeling this,” she said. “We have a short supply of the private rental market at the moment.

“We’ve seen the issues of people moving into Queensland and maybe purchasing a house where a family is living, and all of a sudden, that family has to go and find another rental property.

“This is not unusual. This is adding to our pressure.”

When asked if she understood the “degree of desperation” some families were experiencing, including some who had been on the waiting list for two years in her electorate of Inala, Palaszczuk said she did.

“I represent a social housing community, please do not say I do not understand this issue. That is incorrect and that is false,” she said.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli accused the government of prioritising positive social media posts over a proper response to the problem.