Housing Minister Michael Sukkar has lashed out at Queensland councils after they asked him to convene a national housing crisis summit.
The Local Government Association of Queensland on Tuesday wrote to Mr Sukkar calling for an urgent summit on the growing crisis in rental and housing affordability and supply.
The letter was also signed by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland, Infrastructure Association of Queensland, Queensland Resources Council, Queensland Farmers' Federation, the RACQ, Growcom, Waste Recycling Industry Association Queensland, QShelter, St Vincent de Paul Society and Urban Development Institute of Australia.
Housing is under pressure in Queensland, which has seen the highest interstate migration in the nation in recent years, while there are more than 50,000 people on the social housing waiting list and more than 1000 flood victims in emergency accommodation.
The LGAQ and other groups say the crisis has been worsened by supply shortages, low interest rates, rising property prices, supply chain issues and labour shortages.
They say a national summit will allow all three levels of government, industry and the community to work out strategic solutions.
"We urge the federal government to listen to our clarion call and commit to this important step of a National Summit," the letter said.
"We stand willing and able to work with your government on this joint request, on behalf of our members - Queenslanders who deserve the security of affordable and secure housing, and a liveable community."
The minister did not respond directly to the request for a housing summit, but said the federal government's existing policy was designed to relieve pressure.
Mr Sukkar said any affordability issues were mainly being caused by lack of supply from councils and state governments.
"State governments and local councils need to step up and increase the supply of housing to put downward pressure on house prices and rentals," he said.
"We strongly encourage states to rethink their prohibitive taxes and regulatory bottle necks."
In last year's budget, the Queensland government committed $2.9 billon over four years for social housing, which is expected to fund 6365 new homes.
Queensland Council of Social Services chief executive Aimee McVeigh called it "a good first step" but said the magnitude of the crisis required a "marathon, which must be run together by all levels of government".
"The current level of investment will only address 21 per cent of the housing register and this does not account for the likelihood of continued exponential increases," she said last year.
Federal Labor's housing spokesman Jason Clare said his party will draw up a national housing and homelessness plan with input from all levels of government, industry and community groups if elected to government.
"Housing industry experts have also been calling for this for years, but the Morrison-Joyce government has refused to act, saying this is mainly the responsibility of state governments," Mr Clare told AAP.
"It is not - it's the responsibility of all levels of government."
The LGAQ and other peak groups said the worsening housing crisis would soon impact workers and economic growth in Queensland.
"This perfect housing storm on our state is resulting in a range of social challenges for individuals, families and local communities statewide including increased homelessness, mental health pressures, drug and alcohol abuse and crime rates," they wrote in the letter.
"In some of our most vulnerable First Nations communities, overcrowding resulting from a shortage of housing has become a human rights issue and has escalated COVID-19 outbreaks during the pandemic."
