Figures make a mockery of Treasurer's claim
According to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures, 27,663 new houses were built in the March quarter, down 1.3 per cent, while new private sector housing came in at 15,190, a drop of 9.3 per cent.
When combined, 43,517 homes were built in the March quarter, down by 4 per cent on the December quarter.
Last year, the federal government set an ambitious 1.2 million new-home target in five years under the National Housing Accord.
In order to achieve this, Australia needs to build 60,000 homes a quarter. Australia is building less than the 60,000 homes a quarter it needs. NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia
In brighter news, there was a 14 per cent lift in new houses started in March to 47,645.
Property Council group executive policy and advocacy Matthew Kandelaars said Wednesday's data was further proof Australia needed to be building more homes.
'Progress against our housing targets was never going to be linear, but we've reached the point where we need to hit housing delivery in top gear just to keep pace, let alone get ahead,' Mr Kandelaars said.
'Official data on completions for the March 2025 quarter, nine months into the National Housing Accord, show we're running 18,147 homes behind target. Housing construction has slowed in recent years. NewsWire / Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia
'It takes more than a year to build a home and more than three years to build an apartment project. Yet another quarter of poor numbers means more disappointment for future homebuyers and renters.'
The data comes days after partially unredacted files were released to the ABC through a freedom of information request showing that Australia's National Housing Accord would 'not be met'.
While Labor has committed to building 1.2 million well-located homes in the five years to June 30, 2029, the target is already 55,300 homes behind following its first year of operation.
Despite the slow start, Treasurer Jim Chalmers backed Labor's ability to reach the target, adding that he was 'pretty relaxed' about the accidental FOI slip. Treasurer Jim Chalmers says it's an ambitious target. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia
'Under current trajectories, we would fall short, but that doesn't mean that between now and over the course of the next four years that we can't consider ways and work with the states and territories and others, local governments and others, on ways to build more homes,' he told reporters on Monday.
'It's not the worst thing from time to time for it to be understood in the broader community that this will be a difficult target to meet.
'But if we all do our bit, we all play our part, as the Commonwealth has been willing to play, then we can build the homes that people desperately need.'
Acting Coalition housing spokesman James Paterson said the advice from Treasury 'confirmed what Australians already know'.
'Labor will fail to build the 1.2 million new homes they promised,' he said.
'Under the former Coalition government, Australia built an average of 190,000 new homes per year. Under Labor, that figure has dropped to barely 170,000. To meet their own housing target, Labor needs to build 250,000 new homes annually.
'Instead of building housing, Labor are obsessed with building housing bureaucracies.'
Mr Kandelaars said the nation's property industry remained ready to deliver but was being held back by settings that deter investment, slow approvals, high development costs and post-approval roadblocks.
'We're building homes half as fast as we were 30 years ago. That's not just a housing issue but a productivity problem,' Mr Kandelaars said.
'Next month's Economic Reform Roundtable hosted by the Treasurer is a chance to put housing delivery at the heart of the national productivity agenda, which means getting investment settings right and focusing on better, smarter and more efficient planning and environmental approvals.'
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A power boat skipper who targeted a century-old passenger ferry carrying Labor Party MPs as part of a protest against the party's offshore wind policy has been convicted and fined $500. Jared Luke Banek, 47, who previously pleaded guilty to interfering with the use of the Port Stephens waterway, indicated that he would appeal the sentence. Labor senator Deborah O'Neill, Port Stephens MP Kate Washington and about 50 Labor party supporters were aboard the 102-year-old Wangi Queen in waters off Lemon Tree Passage to raise money for then Port Stephens mayoral candidate Leah Anderson on August 11 last year. Two federal police officers were also on board. A number of anti-wind farm protesters were in the vicinity when the ferry left the Lemon Tree Passage wharf at about 10.30am. Facts tendered to the court said Mr Banek attended the area to protest in his 17.5m power boat, Reel Issues. 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A power boat skipper who targeted a century-old passenger ferry carrying Labor Party MPs as part of a protest against the party's offshore wind policy has been convicted and fined $500. Jared Luke Banek, 47, who previously pleaded guilty to interfering with the use of the Port Stephens waterway, indicated that he would appeal the sentence. Labor senator Deborah O'Neill, Port Stephens MP Kate Washington and about 50 Labor party supporters were aboard the 102-year-old Wangi Queen in waters off Lemon Tree Passage to raise money for then Port Stephens mayoral candidate Leah Anderson on August 11 last year. Two federal police officers were also on board. A number of anti-wind farm protesters were in the vicinity when the ferry left the Lemon Tree Passage wharf at about 10.30am. Facts tendered to the court said Mr Banek attended the area to protest in his 17.5m power boat, Reel Issues. 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The Advertiser
4 hours ago
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'Respect never cost anything': PM defends China outcome
Anthony Albanese has hit back at the coalition over claims of "indulgence" during his China trip, saying his rivals don't understand the importance of respect in diplomacy. The prime minister's itinerary has included retracing the steps of Gough Whitlam on the Great Wall of China and a panda research centre in the southwestern city of Chengdu as his visit nears the end. Back home, the optics of visiting popular tourist sites attracted sniping from the opposition. Coalition frontbencher James Paterson suggested the prime minister was enjoying himself too much. "I do wonder whether a Gough Whitlam history tour on the Great Wall of China, whether a visit to Chengdu to pose with some pandas, and whether a hit of tennis is strictly necessary as part of a six-day visit to China, when there is so much else at stake in our other international relationships around the world," he told Sky News on Thursday. "And frankly, I have to say that some of this is starting to look a little bit indulgent." Mr Albanese has himself been eager to draw links between his tour and those of former Labor prime ministers Whitlam and Bob Hawke, who also visited the giant pandas in 1986. What those and his visits achieved was building respect between Australia and China, which would in turn result in better economic and diplomatic outcomes, he said. "Those pictures go to 27 million people, potentially, in Australia. They go to over a billion people in China," Mr Albanese told reporters in Chengdu. "And those billion people represent people who are increasingly rising up the income ladder and are potential tourists and therefore job creators in Australia. "If James Patterson doesn't understand that, then he doesn't understand much. "The Great Wall of China symbolises the extraordinary history and culture here in China, and showing a bit of respect to people never cost anything. You know what it does, it gives you a reward." Mr Albanese's trip has been shorter on concrete outcomes than in previous years, when his resumption of dialogue with China saw $20 billion worth of Chinese trade sanctions lifted from Australian exports. But the welcome has been warmer and coverage from Chinese state media more effusive than at any time since before the breakdown in Sino-Australian relations in 2020. A few agreements to boost trade and tourism links have been reached. But the increased dialogue and co-operation in areas from green steel to medical technology were part of a gradual improvement in relations that would advance Australia's national interests, Mr Albanese said. "You don't go from a position of where we were into absolute agreement on everything. That's not the goal." Despite the improving mood, China and Australia still have many issues they disagree on. In meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, Mr Albanese raised concerns over China not providing advance notice of naval live-fire drills off Australia that forced commercial flights to divert. Meanwhile, Mr Li has voiced his dismay over Australia's stringent restrictions on foreign investment from China, imploring the Australian government not to treat Chinese firms unfairly. "We have different political systems, but it has been constructive and has been an important step in the developing of our relationship," Mr Albanese said. Anthony Albanese has hit back at the coalition over claims of "indulgence" during his China trip, saying his rivals don't understand the importance of respect in diplomacy. The prime minister's itinerary has included retracing the steps of Gough Whitlam on the Great Wall of China and a panda research centre in the southwestern city of Chengdu as his visit nears the end. Back home, the optics of visiting popular tourist sites attracted sniping from the opposition. Coalition frontbencher James Paterson suggested the prime minister was enjoying himself too much. "I do wonder whether a Gough Whitlam history tour on the Great Wall of China, whether a visit to Chengdu to pose with some pandas, and whether a hit of tennis is strictly necessary as part of a six-day visit to China, when there is so much else at stake in our other international relationships around the world," he told Sky News on Thursday. "And frankly, I have to say that some of this is starting to look a little bit indulgent." Mr Albanese has himself been eager to draw links between his tour and those of former Labor prime ministers Whitlam and Bob Hawke, who also visited the giant pandas in 1986. What those and his visits achieved was building respect between Australia and China, which would in turn result in better economic and diplomatic outcomes, he said. "Those pictures go to 27 million people, potentially, in Australia. They go to over a billion people in China," Mr Albanese told reporters in Chengdu. "And those billion people represent people who are increasingly rising up the income ladder and are potential tourists and therefore job creators in Australia. "If James Patterson doesn't understand that, then he doesn't understand much. "The Great Wall of China symbolises the extraordinary history and culture here in China, and showing a bit of respect to people never cost anything. You know what it does, it gives you a reward." Mr Albanese's trip has been shorter on concrete outcomes than in previous years, when his resumption of dialogue with China saw $20 billion worth of Chinese trade sanctions lifted from Australian exports. But the welcome has been warmer and coverage from Chinese state media more effusive than at any time since before the breakdown in Sino-Australian relations in 2020. A few agreements to boost trade and tourism links have been reached. But the increased dialogue and co-operation in areas from green steel to medical technology were part of a gradual improvement in relations that would advance Australia's national interests, Mr Albanese said. "You don't go from a position of where we were into absolute agreement on everything. That's not the goal." Despite the improving mood, China and Australia still have many issues they disagree on. In meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, Mr Albanese raised concerns over China not providing advance notice of naval live-fire drills off Australia that forced commercial flights to divert. Meanwhile, Mr Li has voiced his dismay over Australia's stringent restrictions on foreign investment from China, imploring the Australian government not to treat Chinese firms unfairly. "We have different political systems, but it has been constructive and has been an important step in the developing of our relationship," Mr Albanese said. Anthony Albanese has hit back at the coalition over claims of "indulgence" during his China trip, saying his rivals don't understand the importance of respect in diplomacy. The prime minister's itinerary has included retracing the steps of Gough Whitlam on the Great Wall of China and a panda research centre in the southwestern city of Chengdu as his visit nears the end. Back home, the optics of visiting popular tourist sites attracted sniping from the opposition. Coalition frontbencher James Paterson suggested the prime minister was enjoying himself too much. "I do wonder whether a Gough Whitlam history tour on the Great Wall of China, whether a visit to Chengdu to pose with some pandas, and whether a hit of tennis is strictly necessary as part of a six-day visit to China, when there is so much else at stake in our other international relationships around the world," he told Sky News on Thursday. "And frankly, I have to say that some of this is starting to look a little bit indulgent." Mr Albanese has himself been eager to draw links between his tour and those of former Labor prime ministers Whitlam and Bob Hawke, who also visited the giant pandas in 1986. What those and his visits achieved was building respect between Australia and China, which would in turn result in better economic and diplomatic outcomes, he said. "Those pictures go to 27 million people, potentially, in Australia. They go to over a billion people in China," Mr Albanese told reporters in Chengdu. "And those billion people represent people who are increasingly rising up the income ladder and are potential tourists and therefore job creators in Australia. "If James Patterson doesn't understand that, then he doesn't understand much. "The Great Wall of China symbolises the extraordinary history and culture here in China, and showing a bit of respect to people never cost anything. You know what it does, it gives you a reward." Mr Albanese's trip has been shorter on concrete outcomes than in previous years, when his resumption of dialogue with China saw $20 billion worth of Chinese trade sanctions lifted from Australian exports. But the welcome has been warmer and coverage from Chinese state media more effusive than at any time since before the breakdown in Sino-Australian relations in 2020. A few agreements to boost trade and tourism links have been reached. But the increased dialogue and co-operation in areas from green steel to medical technology were part of a gradual improvement in relations that would advance Australia's national interests, Mr Albanese said. "You don't go from a position of where we were into absolute agreement on everything. That's not the goal." Despite the improving mood, China and Australia still have many issues they disagree on. In meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, Mr Albanese raised concerns over China not providing advance notice of naval live-fire drills off Australia that forced commercial flights to divert. Meanwhile, Mr Li has voiced his dismay over Australia's stringent restrictions on foreign investment from China, imploring the Australian government not to treat Chinese firms unfairly. "We have different political systems, but it has been constructive and has been an important step in the developing of our relationship," Mr Albanese said. Anthony Albanese has hit back at the coalition over claims of "indulgence" during his China trip, saying his rivals don't understand the importance of respect in diplomacy. The prime minister's itinerary has included retracing the steps of Gough Whitlam on the Great Wall of China and a panda research centre in the southwestern city of Chengdu as his visit nears the end. Back home, the optics of visiting popular tourist sites attracted sniping from the opposition. Coalition frontbencher James Paterson suggested the prime minister was enjoying himself too much. "I do wonder whether a Gough Whitlam history tour on the Great Wall of China, whether a visit to Chengdu to pose with some pandas, and whether a hit of tennis is strictly necessary as part of a six-day visit to China, when there is so much else at stake in our other international relationships around the world," he told Sky News on Thursday. "And frankly, I have to say that some of this is starting to look a little bit indulgent." Mr Albanese has himself been eager to draw links between his tour and those of former Labor prime ministers Whitlam and Bob Hawke, who also visited the giant pandas in 1986. What those and his visits achieved was building respect between Australia and China, which would in turn result in better economic and diplomatic outcomes, he said. "Those pictures go to 27 million people, potentially, in Australia. They go to over a billion people in China," Mr Albanese told reporters in Chengdu. "And those billion people represent people who are increasingly rising up the income ladder and are potential tourists and therefore job creators in Australia. "If James Patterson doesn't understand that, then he doesn't understand much. "The Great Wall of China symbolises the extraordinary history and culture here in China, and showing a bit of respect to people never cost anything. You know what it does, it gives you a reward." Mr Albanese's trip has been shorter on concrete outcomes than in previous years, when his resumption of dialogue with China saw $20 billion worth of Chinese trade sanctions lifted from Australian exports. But the welcome has been warmer and coverage from Chinese state media more effusive than at any time since before the breakdown in Sino-Australian relations in 2020. A few agreements to boost trade and tourism links have been reached. But the increased dialogue and co-operation in areas from green steel to medical technology were part of a gradual improvement in relations that would advance Australia's national interests, Mr Albanese said. "You don't go from a position of where we were into absolute agreement on everything. That's not the goal." Despite the improving mood, China and Australia still have many issues they disagree on. In meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, Mr Albanese raised concerns over China not providing advance notice of naval live-fire drills off Australia that forced commercial flights to divert. Meanwhile, Mr Li has voiced his dismay over Australia's stringent restrictions on foreign investment from China, imploring the Australian government not to treat Chinese firms unfairly. "We have different political systems, but it has been constructive and has been an important step in the developing of our relationship," Mr Albanese said.
