Latest news with #StateoftheHousingSystem2025
Sky News AU
02-07-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Albanese government misses every target of National Housing Accord, falling more than 55,000 homes short in first year
The Albanese government has failed to meet a single target in the first year of its flagship National Housing Accord, falling more than 55,000 homes short of its annual goal. New figures from the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) reveal the worsening housing crisis amid construction delays and exacerbated supply issues due to immigration. The housing policy, which began in July 2024, aimed to deliver 1.2 million new homes by 2029— or 20,000 homes per month—to improve housing availability and affordability. Analysis by the IPA found that just 185,000 homes have been completed since the accord began, leaving the government over 55,000 dwellings behind schedule. The government's target included 55,000 social and affordable homes, of which just 2,600 were completed in 2024. 'The federal government's National Housing Accord is one year old and already tens of thousands of homes behind target,' Director of Research at the IPA Morgan Begg said. 'In its first year of operation, the National Housing Accord as failed to hit a single target. 'At the same time the federal government is bringing in 1.3 million new migrants over three years, Australia is being set up for a disaster.' The latest forecast from the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council projected the government will fall 250,000 homes short of its target by 2029. Meanwhile, bureaucratic red tape has strangled the number of new homes being built as the time taken to build a new dwelling continues to grow. According to findings based on Australian Bureau of Statistics data, it takes 50 per cent longer to build a house in 2025 compared to a decade ago. 'There is unprecedented demand for new homes. Yet it is taking far longer to build them, and it costs significantly more to do so,' Mr Begg said. The IPA also pointed to the contradiction between falling construction rates and rising net migration, with about 1 million migrants set to come in by 2029. The federal budget papers have forecast net overseas migration of 260,000 in 2025-26 and then 225,000 in the subsequent three years. 'There is no plan on how to house new arrivals … This is a manufactured housing disaster,' Mr Begg said. The damning findings follow similar warnings from the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council (NHSAC). In its State of the Housing System 2025 report, the council projected that only 938,000 homes would be built by June 2029—over 250,000 homes short of the federal target. It noted that no state or territory was on track to meet its share of the target, based on population. ABS figures show just 177,000 dwellings were completed in 2024—well below the estimated underlying demand of 223,000. The Albanese government increased total housing commitments to $33 billion in the 2025 federal budget, including the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund. Housing Minister Clare O'Neil has defended her approach, arguing 'it takes time to turn the tide on a housing crisis a generation in the making'. The Property Council of Australia (PCA) has since called on governments to redouble efforts to boost housing supply productivity. 'We're projected to be 262,000 homes behind the 2029 target but imagine the gap without these reforms,' PCA Chief Executive Mike Zorbas said in a statement. 'We … desperately need to address falls in productivity that mean we're building fewer than half as many homes per hours worked today than in the mid-1990s. 'We need to move from 170,000 homes a year into the high 200,000s to meet the Accord's target. 'That requires bold leadership to dissolve assessment and approval gridlock in key corridors.'
Sky News AU
14-06-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
It's time to slash net overseas migration, so spare us your growth and diversity lectures before we suffer the same fate as the UK
News this week that we are now importing people faster than we can house them is proof that, as tax-paying citizens, we are in fact the government's last priority. Not only is the maths on this mind boggling but good luck trying to speak out against the ethos of our much-vaunted Big Australia super speed migration policy pioneered by former PM Kevin Rudd. You'll be dismissed as a racist, a xenophobe and stuck wistfully in the 1960s when those of white Anglo-descent were the majority and everyone drove a Holden built at the Elizabeth plant in South for a minute consider the data. In March 2024, our population hit 27.1 million and according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 83 per cent of the 615,300 increase came from net overseas migration. Births and deaths, classed as 'natural increase' accounted for the other 17 per in regard to the numbers released this week, there's no wriggle room to argue that it's good news for young Aussies already resigned to never owning their own home. In plain speaking, if your population grows faster than your ability to house it, rents explode and housing supply crashes. Everyone suffers, ultimately. PM Anthony Albanese's government had promised 1.2 million homes in five years. According to this week's State of the Housing System 2025 report, that plan is now a fantasy because we'll miss the target by at least 260,000 homes. Meanwhile, our net overseas migration exceeds 500,000 people a year. To keep up with population growth driven by immigration, industry experts say Australia must build around 240,000 new homes each each migrant household averaging 2.5 people, the result here is catastrophic. We're reportedly going backwards by more than 1000 homes every single week. Meanwhile the PM chose his address at the National Press Club on Tuesday to finally admit what the rest of us have complained about for years. Endless regulation has made it next to impossible to build or buy a home in this country. Planning laws, heritage overlays, environmental assessments and zoning restrictions might make sense on their own but stacked together? Australia needs to take a pickaxe to net overseas migration until our housing supply catches up to save us from the deepening housing crisis, rising homelessness and a strained health service that is pummelling the UK, writes Louise Roberts. Picture: John Grainger/News Corp It's a bureaucratic quagmire that sinks housing before a single brick is slathered with concrete and laid. In other words, getting a project off the ground is now so complicated and expensive, it's no wonder the country is in the middle of a housing crisis. Sure, about time someone in Canberra said this out loud but why not go further and admit we need a housing-first migration policy too to help fix this crisis? Australia's immigration program should serve the national interest and not those of universities or developers chasing cheap labour. A flood of student or temporary visa holders puts immediate strain on the housing market long before they start making a real 'impact' on the economy. Housing is a fundamental right not a high-end privilege. But thanks to years of inaction from both sides of politics, owning a home has become a fugazi with first-home buyers locked out while governments tinker around the edges. Also, criticising immigration policy is not racist. The debate is about capacity and fairness, not culture or the two is dishonest because this isn't about 'closing the borders'. It's about calibrating immigration to match infrastructure and housing capacity. We don't have to look far for proof that mass migration without infrastructure planning leads to the financial year ending June 2023, the UK recorded record-high net migration of more than 670,000 people. The result? A deeper housing crisis, rising homelessness and an even more strained National Health Service. The Office for Budget Responsibility said high immigration levels are not improving per capita living standards. It's no surprise that they've started slashing visas and tightening rules for Canada, revered as a model of open immigration, is now dramatically reducing its student visa intake and migration after backlash from citizens. Surely it is time to slash net overseas migration here until housing supply catches up. We don't need a lecture about growth and diversity. If we want a fair go especially for young Aussies, we must have the courage to say that our nation is full, for now. Louise Roberts is a journalist and editor who has worked as a TV and radio commentator in Australia, the UK and the US. Louise is a winner of the Peter Ruehl Award for Outstanding Columnist in the NRMA Kennedy Awards for Excellence in Journalism and has been shortlisted in other awards for her opinion work
Sky News AU
11-06-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Australia's mass migration 'disaster' overwhelming Labor's housing plan, availability going backwards by hundreds of homes every week
Australia is bringing in migrants faster than it can house them, with Labor's mass immigration plans outpacing new home construction and shrinking the housing supply by more than 1000 homes every week. Australia is bringing in migrants faster than it can house them, with Labor's mass immigration plans outpacing new home construction and shrinking the housing supply by more than 1000 homes every week. Despite promising to deliver 1.2 million new homes over five years, new forecasts reveal the country will fall short by 260,000 homes by June 2029. The State of the Housing System 2025 report forecast the country will build only 938,000 new homes by June 2029, short of the 1.2 million promised. Meanwhile, net overseas migration will total about 1.2 million people by 2029-30, according to the federal government's own 2025–26 Budget. That means, by the time the government finishes building the homes, the country will have gone backwards by 200,000 homes. That shortfall translates to a net loss of more than 1,000 homes per week, when matched against population growth and existing shortages. Adding in natural population increases, the shortfall increases even further. In response, Migration Watch Australia Director Jordan Knight has accused the Albanese government of creating a 'total disaster in the making'. 'The Albanese government promised to build more houses, today they're building less. They promised to lower immigration, today they're bringing in more,' he told Sky News. 'The Housing Minister Clare O'Neil herself has said she wants house prices to continue to rise, and the government is using mass immigration to achieve this. 'Homeownership is a core pillar of our society. If we lose it, it will be chaos.' Mr Knight rejected the government's repeated claim that migration is needed to support the construction industry, labelling it a 'lie'. 'The lie that we need migrants to build houses is ridiculous. A minuscule amount of new migrants work in construction—and they need to be housed before they can build housing,' he said. — Migration Watch Australia (@migrationwaus) April 6, 2025 Immigration Minister Tony Burke announced changes in December to 'attract migrants' in specific occupations, including construction. 'The biggest bulk of our migrant intake comes from international students. Frankly, they can study online. We need to fix our problems first before we bring any more people in,' Mr Knight said. Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) President Col Dutton also warned that Labor was falling far behind its commitments, citing new industry data. 'UDIA National analysis has found that Australia will actually undershoot the Housing Accord target by up to 400,000 homes,' Mr Dutton said. 'We simply can't build the houses fast enough … What we need is a sharp focus on skilled migration and coordination of housing supply policy with immigration numbers.' Under the UDIA projections, the net losses in housing increase to more than 1,500 houses every week. Mr Dutton said the industry was being choked by red tape, slow approvals, and infrastructure bottlenecks. 'Supply is being choked by development approvals processes through councils and state governments, lack of funding for enabling infrastructure to service development ready land and cumbersome environmental approval processes lacking a co-ordinated approach between all levels of government," he said. According to ABS dwelling completion data, Australia built only 166,000 homes in 2024, compared to 446,000 net overseas migrants entering the country that same year. With an average of 2.5 people per household, that created a housing shortage of roughly 12,400 dwellings in a single year—even before accounting for the existing shortfall. Rental vacancy rates have remained at near-record level lows of around 1.3 per cent, while the average time to save for a deposit has increased to 10.6 years. Housing Minister Clare O'Neil recently argued that the government has been laying the groundwork for long-term reform. 'It takes time to turn the tide on a housing crisis a generation in the making,' her spokesperson told Sky News last month. 'That's why it's so important the Labor government keeps building on the foundations laid last term." But critics have said the numbers don't add up—and the government's vision is being overwhelmed by its own migration settings. The Property Council of Australia echoed the warnings, saying 'alarm bells' were ringing over national housing supply. Chief Executive Mike Zorbas said the nation's construction and planning systems were still 'not fit for purpose'. 'The sad fact is that many Australians feel that homeownership is out of reach,' he said. 'More than 30 per cent of the cost of a new home is government taxes and charges.'
The Advertiser
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
Australia's plan to build more homes is in deep trouble. We need bold action
Australia's plan to build 1.2 million new homes by 2029 is in trouble. A new report by the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council (NHSAC) shows we are likely to miss this ambitious target by a huge margin. At the current pace, the council forecasts we will fall about 262,000 homes short of the goal. In other words, for every five homes we need, we're only on track to build about four. No state or territory is building enough to meet its share. This is more than just a number; it means the housing affordability crisis will continue unless we act fast. The report lays out five areas of priority for reform. But implementing its recommendations will require bolder action than we're currently seeing. NHSAC's State of the Housing System 2025 report shows very challenging conditions for future home buyers and renters. By the end of 2024, it took half of median household income to service a new mortgage. Think about that: half of your income gets spent on maintaining a roof over your head. That's well above one common measure of "housing stress" for lower-income households: spending more than 30 per cent of gross income on housing. Anyone planning to purchase their first home faces an average savings period that extends beyond ten years just for their deposit. For renters, the report found it now takes 33 per cent of median household income to cover the cost of a new lease. It doesn't help that rental vacancy rates are near record lows, around 1.8 per cent nationwide. This means renters are competing fiercely for very few available homes. This drives rents even higher. Australians can see the daily reality this report describes. And it can have disproportionate negative impacts on vulnerable groups in society. For example, the rate of homelessness among First Nations people has been about 8.8 times the rate for non-Indigenous Australians. Supply remains a key factor underpinning Australia's housing crisis. We simply aren't building enough homes. Australia completed approximately 177,000 new dwellings in 2024 but that fell short of demand for about 223,000 new homes. And the report predicts we will remain behind our targets for coming years. Under current policy settings, a forecast total of 938,000 new homes will be built between mid-2024 and mid-2029, well short of the Housing Accord's 1.2 million home target. The report identifies five essential action areas needed to restore Australia's housing system to proper functioning. 1. Lift social and affordable housing to 6 per cent of all homes In 2021, only about 4 per cent of dwellings were for social or affordable housing. Governments and not-for-profits must add many more low-rent homes so people on modest incomes aren't trapped on long waitlists. 2. Improve productivity and build faster with modern methods of construction Prefabricated panels, modular kits and even 3D printed structures can halve building time and use fewer tradies. Federal and state governments could fund factories, training and pilot projects to get these methods into the mainstream. The report also calls on the government to address labour and skills shortages. 3. Fix planning systems and unlock land Quicker approvals, firm deadlines and updated zoning would let builders put taller or denser housing near transport, jobs and schools. Governments also need to bundle and service big sites so work can start without years of red tape. 4. Support for renters The report calls on governments to support better outcomes for renters, and to fully implement National Cabinet's "Better Deal for Renters" agreement. This includes through fair notice requirements, no-fault eviction limits and longer leases. It also calls for more support for institutional investment. Tax settings that attract super funds and insurers into large build-to-rent projects would add professionally managed apartments and steady rents. 5. Swap stamp duty for land tax Paying a small yearly land charge instead of a huge upfront stamp duty lets people move or downsize with less of a financial hit, freeing under-used homes and smoothing the market. The council's proposed solutions seem excellent when studied theoretically, but their practical application will prove challenging. Australia needs significant time and effort to address multiple systemic obstacles. One big challenge is the construction workforce. The current workforce lacks enough skilled tradespeople to build homes at the necessary speed. This can result in major delays - even when funding exists. Another barrier is the planning system itself. Changing planning and zoning regulations faces significant political challenges. Higher-density developments face community resistance because of the "not in my backyard" (NIMBY) problem while councils tend to move slowly in updating their regulations. However, the report notes signs of progress in some states. The NSW government has accelerated approval processes and also emphasises "transit-oriented development" - putting new homes near planned and existing transport infrastructure. Similarly, moving to land tax is easier said than done: State governments generate revenue from stamp duty and a shift to an alternative system would require many years to implement. The absence of federal backing and state incentive payments risks delaying this reform. NHSAC's report doesn't just diagnose the problem, it offers a roadmap to a healthier housing system. But those recommendations require bold action. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government has a crucial opportunity to turn words into deeds. Australia's housing woes didn't appear overnight, they are the result of decades of under-supply and policy missteps. Turning things around won't be instant - but it is achievable with sustained effort. Australia's plan to build 1.2 million new homes by 2029 is in trouble. A new report by the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council (NHSAC) shows we are likely to miss this ambitious target by a huge margin. At the current pace, the council forecasts we will fall about 262,000 homes short of the goal. In other words, for every five homes we need, we're only on track to build about four. No state or territory is building enough to meet its share. This is more than just a number; it means the housing affordability crisis will continue unless we act fast. The report lays out five areas of priority for reform. But implementing its recommendations will require bolder action than we're currently seeing. NHSAC's State of the Housing System 2025 report shows very challenging conditions for future home buyers and renters. By the end of 2024, it took half of median household income to service a new mortgage. Think about that: half of your income gets spent on maintaining a roof over your head. That's well above one common measure of "housing stress" for lower-income households: spending more than 30 per cent of gross income on housing. Anyone planning to purchase their first home faces an average savings period that extends beyond ten years just for their deposit. For renters, the report found it now takes 33 per cent of median household income to cover the cost of a new lease. It doesn't help that rental vacancy rates are near record lows, around 1.8 per cent nationwide. This means renters are competing fiercely for very few available homes. This drives rents even higher. Australians can see the daily reality this report describes. And it can have disproportionate negative impacts on vulnerable groups in society. For example, the rate of homelessness among First Nations people has been about 8.8 times the rate for non-Indigenous Australians. Supply remains a key factor underpinning Australia's housing crisis. We simply aren't building enough homes. Australia completed approximately 177,000 new dwellings in 2024 but that fell short of demand for about 223,000 new homes. And the report predicts we will remain behind our targets for coming years. Under current policy settings, a forecast total of 938,000 new homes will be built between mid-2024 and mid-2029, well short of the Housing Accord's 1.2 million home target. The report identifies five essential action areas needed to restore Australia's housing system to proper functioning. 1. Lift social and affordable housing to 6 per cent of all homes In 2021, only about 4 per cent of dwellings were for social or affordable housing. Governments and not-for-profits must add many more low-rent homes so people on modest incomes aren't trapped on long waitlists. 2. Improve productivity and build faster with modern methods of construction Prefabricated panels, modular kits and even 3D printed structures can halve building time and use fewer tradies. Federal and state governments could fund factories, training and pilot projects to get these methods into the mainstream. The report also calls on the government to address labour and skills shortages. 3. Fix planning systems and unlock land Quicker approvals, firm deadlines and updated zoning would let builders put taller or denser housing near transport, jobs and schools. Governments also need to bundle and service big sites so work can start without years of red tape. 4. Support for renters The report calls on governments to support better outcomes for renters, and to fully implement National Cabinet's "Better Deal for Renters" agreement. This includes through fair notice requirements, no-fault eviction limits and longer leases. It also calls for more support for institutional investment. Tax settings that attract super funds and insurers into large build-to-rent projects would add professionally managed apartments and steady rents. 5. Swap stamp duty for land tax Paying a small yearly land charge instead of a huge upfront stamp duty lets people move or downsize with less of a financial hit, freeing under-used homes and smoothing the market. The council's proposed solutions seem excellent when studied theoretically, but their practical application will prove challenging. Australia needs significant time and effort to address multiple systemic obstacles. One big challenge is the construction workforce. The current workforce lacks enough skilled tradespeople to build homes at the necessary speed. This can result in major delays - even when funding exists. Another barrier is the planning system itself. Changing planning and zoning regulations faces significant political challenges. Higher-density developments face community resistance because of the "not in my backyard" (NIMBY) problem while councils tend to move slowly in updating their regulations. However, the report notes signs of progress in some states. The NSW government has accelerated approval processes and also emphasises "transit-oriented development" - putting new homes near planned and existing transport infrastructure. Similarly, moving to land tax is easier said than done: State governments generate revenue from stamp duty and a shift to an alternative system would require many years to implement. The absence of federal backing and state incentive payments risks delaying this reform. NHSAC's report doesn't just diagnose the problem, it offers a roadmap to a healthier housing system. But those recommendations require bold action. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government has a crucial opportunity to turn words into deeds. Australia's housing woes didn't appear overnight, they are the result of decades of under-supply and policy missteps. Turning things around won't be instant - but it is achievable with sustained effort. Australia's plan to build 1.2 million new homes by 2029 is in trouble. A new report by the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council (NHSAC) shows we are likely to miss this ambitious target by a huge margin. At the current pace, the council forecasts we will fall about 262,000 homes short of the goal. In other words, for every five homes we need, we're only on track to build about four. No state or territory is building enough to meet its share. This is more than just a number; it means the housing affordability crisis will continue unless we act fast. The report lays out five areas of priority for reform. But implementing its recommendations will require bolder action than we're currently seeing. NHSAC's State of the Housing System 2025 report shows very challenging conditions for future home buyers and renters. By the end of 2024, it took half of median household income to service a new mortgage. Think about that: half of your income gets spent on maintaining a roof over your head. That's well above one common measure of "housing stress" for lower-income households: spending more than 30 per cent of gross income on housing. Anyone planning to purchase their first home faces an average savings period that extends beyond ten years just for their deposit. For renters, the report found it now takes 33 per cent of median household income to cover the cost of a new lease. It doesn't help that rental vacancy rates are near record lows, around 1.8 per cent nationwide. This means renters are competing fiercely for very few available homes. This drives rents even higher. Australians can see the daily reality this report describes. And it can have disproportionate negative impacts on vulnerable groups in society. For example, the rate of homelessness among First Nations people has been about 8.8 times the rate for non-Indigenous Australians. Supply remains a key factor underpinning Australia's housing crisis. We simply aren't building enough homes. Australia completed approximately 177,000 new dwellings in 2024 but that fell short of demand for about 223,000 new homes. And the report predicts we will remain behind our targets for coming years. Under current policy settings, a forecast total of 938,000 new homes will be built between mid-2024 and mid-2029, well short of the Housing Accord's 1.2 million home target. The report identifies five essential action areas needed to restore Australia's housing system to proper functioning. 1. Lift social and affordable housing to 6 per cent of all homes In 2021, only about 4 per cent of dwellings were for social or affordable housing. Governments and not-for-profits must add many more low-rent homes so people on modest incomes aren't trapped on long waitlists. 2. Improve productivity and build faster with modern methods of construction Prefabricated panels, modular kits and even 3D printed structures can halve building time and use fewer tradies. Federal and state governments could fund factories, training and pilot projects to get these methods into the mainstream. The report also calls on the government to address labour and skills shortages. 3. Fix planning systems and unlock land Quicker approvals, firm deadlines and updated zoning would let builders put taller or denser housing near transport, jobs and schools. Governments also need to bundle and service big sites so work can start without years of red tape. 4. Support for renters The report calls on governments to support better outcomes for renters, and to fully implement National Cabinet's "Better Deal for Renters" agreement. This includes through fair notice requirements, no-fault eviction limits and longer leases. It also calls for more support for institutional investment. Tax settings that attract super funds and insurers into large build-to-rent projects would add professionally managed apartments and steady rents. 5. Swap stamp duty for land tax Paying a small yearly land charge instead of a huge upfront stamp duty lets people move or downsize with less of a financial hit, freeing under-used homes and smoothing the market. The council's proposed solutions seem excellent when studied theoretically, but their practical application will prove challenging. Australia needs significant time and effort to address multiple systemic obstacles. One big challenge is the construction workforce. The current workforce lacks enough skilled tradespeople to build homes at the necessary speed. This can result in major delays - even when funding exists. Another barrier is the planning system itself. Changing planning and zoning regulations faces significant political challenges. Higher-density developments face community resistance because of the "not in my backyard" (NIMBY) problem while councils tend to move slowly in updating their regulations. However, the report notes signs of progress in some states. The NSW government has accelerated approval processes and also emphasises "transit-oriented development" - putting new homes near planned and existing transport infrastructure. Similarly, moving to land tax is easier said than done: State governments generate revenue from stamp duty and a shift to an alternative system would require many years to implement. The absence of federal backing and state incentive payments risks delaying this reform. NHSAC's report doesn't just diagnose the problem, it offers a roadmap to a healthier housing system. But those recommendations require bold action. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government has a crucial opportunity to turn words into deeds. Australia's housing woes didn't appear overnight, they are the result of decades of under-supply and policy missteps. Turning things around won't be instant - but it is achievable with sustained effort. Australia's plan to build 1.2 million new homes by 2029 is in trouble. A new report by the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council (NHSAC) shows we are likely to miss this ambitious target by a huge margin. At the current pace, the council forecasts we will fall about 262,000 homes short of the goal. In other words, for every five homes we need, we're only on track to build about four. No state or territory is building enough to meet its share. This is more than just a number; it means the housing affordability crisis will continue unless we act fast. The report lays out five areas of priority for reform. But implementing its recommendations will require bolder action than we're currently seeing. NHSAC's State of the Housing System 2025 report shows very challenging conditions for future home buyers and renters. By the end of 2024, it took half of median household income to service a new mortgage. Think about that: half of your income gets spent on maintaining a roof over your head. That's well above one common measure of "housing stress" for lower-income households: spending more than 30 per cent of gross income on housing. Anyone planning to purchase their first home faces an average savings period that extends beyond ten years just for their deposit. For renters, the report found it now takes 33 per cent of median household income to cover the cost of a new lease. It doesn't help that rental vacancy rates are near record lows, around 1.8 per cent nationwide. This means renters are competing fiercely for very few available homes. This drives rents even higher. Australians can see the daily reality this report describes. And it can have disproportionate negative impacts on vulnerable groups in society. For example, the rate of homelessness among First Nations people has been about 8.8 times the rate for non-Indigenous Australians. Supply remains a key factor underpinning Australia's housing crisis. We simply aren't building enough homes. Australia completed approximately 177,000 new dwellings in 2024 but that fell short of demand for about 223,000 new homes. And the report predicts we will remain behind our targets for coming years. Under current policy settings, a forecast total of 938,000 new homes will be built between mid-2024 and mid-2029, well short of the Housing Accord's 1.2 million home target. The report identifies five essential action areas needed to restore Australia's housing system to proper functioning. 1. Lift social and affordable housing to 6 per cent of all homes In 2021, only about 4 per cent of dwellings were for social or affordable housing. Governments and not-for-profits must add many more low-rent homes so people on modest incomes aren't trapped on long waitlists. 2. Improve productivity and build faster with modern methods of construction Prefabricated panels, modular kits and even 3D printed structures can halve building time and use fewer tradies. Federal and state governments could fund factories, training and pilot projects to get these methods into the mainstream. The report also calls on the government to address labour and skills shortages. 3. Fix planning systems and unlock land Quicker approvals, firm deadlines and updated zoning would let builders put taller or denser housing near transport, jobs and schools. Governments also need to bundle and service big sites so work can start without years of red tape. 4. Support for renters The report calls on governments to support better outcomes for renters, and to fully implement National Cabinet's "Better Deal for Renters" agreement. This includes through fair notice requirements, no-fault eviction limits and longer leases. It also calls for more support for institutional investment. Tax settings that attract super funds and insurers into large build-to-rent projects would add professionally managed apartments and steady rents. 5. Swap stamp duty for land tax Paying a small yearly land charge instead of a huge upfront stamp duty lets people move or downsize with less of a financial hit, freeing under-used homes and smoothing the market. The council's proposed solutions seem excellent when studied theoretically, but their practical application will prove challenging. Australia needs significant time and effort to address multiple systemic obstacles. One big challenge is the construction workforce. The current workforce lacks enough skilled tradespeople to build homes at the necessary speed. This can result in major delays - even when funding exists. Another barrier is the planning system itself. Changing planning and zoning regulations faces significant political challenges. Higher-density developments face community resistance because of the "not in my backyard" (NIMBY) problem while councils tend to move slowly in updating their regulations. However, the report notes signs of progress in some states. The NSW government has accelerated approval processes and also emphasises "transit-oriented development" - putting new homes near planned and existing transport infrastructure. Similarly, moving to land tax is easier said than done: State governments generate revenue from stamp duty and a shift to an alternative system would require many years to implement. The absence of federal backing and state incentive payments risks delaying this reform. NHSAC's report doesn't just diagnose the problem, it offers a roadmap to a healthier housing system. But those recommendations require bold action. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government has a crucial opportunity to turn words into deeds. Australia's housing woes didn't appear overnight, they are the result of decades of under-supply and policy missteps. Turning things around won't be instant - but it is achievable with sustained effort.
Sky News AU
21-05-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Albanese government falling short on 1.2 million housing targets, new independent report reveals
The Albanese government has seriously underdelivered in housing supply after promising to build 1.2 million new homes by 2029. If the government were to achieve its target, it would need to ensure 240,000 were built each year, but ABS figures show that since the Housing Accord began in July 2024, only about 90,000 new dwellings have been completed. There were 90,136 houses built from July to December 2024 under the Albanese government, almost the same amount delivered by the Morrison government over the same period in 2021. The findings come after the government lifted total housing commitments to $33 billion in the latest federal budget, including the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund. The National Housing Supply and Affordability Council has projected the government will fall short of its target by more than 250,000 homes—or roughly 20 per cent. The State of the Housing System 2025 report forecast the country will build 938,000 new homes by June 2029—up from 903,000 in the previous forecast. 'No state or territory is forecast to meet the share of the target implied by its population,' the NHSAC report said. Housing Minister Clare O'Neil welcomed the findings which her office said shows the "scale of the ambition and investment" needed to address the housing crisis. "It takes time to turn the tide on a housing crisis a generation in the making, that's why it's so important the Labor government keeps building on the foundations laid last term," a spokesperson for Ms O'Neil told Sky News. "Planning reform, supercharging construction worker training, direct investment in building more social and affordable homes—these are all policies that have taken a Labor government to deliver, and we're continuing that dedicated work into a second term." Housing responsibility is shared between federal and state governments, with most of policy levers on planning and zoning within the jurisdiction of states. Chair of the NHSAC Council, Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz, warned the country remains in the grip of a chronic housing crisis, with no resolution in sight. 'The Australian housing system remains far from healthy and is continuing to experience immense pressure,' Ms Lloyd-Hurwitz said in a statement. 'The nation is still very much in the grips of a housing crisis that has been decades in the making through our persistent failure to deliver enough homes to meet demand. 'For many Australians right across the country, the ability to access an affordable, fit for purpose and secure home remains a challenge, if not out of reach entirely.' The government delivered just 177,000 new dwellings in 2024, well short of the estimated underlying demand of 223,000. Only 2,600 of those homes were new public dwellings, leaving the government a long way to go to achieve its promised 30,000 social and affordable homes by 2029. The Property Council of Australia has since called on the government to do more to boost housing supply and said the 'alarm bells' continue to ring. Chief Executive Mike Zorbas argued that, despite some progress, the country's planning and construction systems were still not fit for purpose. 'The alarm bell continues to sound on national housing supply. The sad fact is that many Australians feel that homeownership is out of reach,' he said on Wednesday. 'More than 30 per cent of the cost of a new home is government taxes and charges.' The average time needed to save for a home deposit has increased to 10.6 years and half of the median household income is needed to pay the average mortgage, according to the report. The report forecasts slight improvements in affordability over the next few years, but concludes that 'system-wide reform' and 'industry innovation' are needed.
