Address
{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.text}} {{region}} Change location{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change location Address
{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.text}} {{region}} Change location{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change locationMember and guest login
Enter your email and password to access secured content, members only resources and discount prices.
Did you become a member online? If not, you will need to activate your account to login.
If you are having problems logging in, please call HIA helpdesk on 1300 650 620 during business hours.
Forgotten password
Need some help?
If you are having problems logging in, please call HIA helpdesk on 1300 650 620 during business hours.
If the email address you have entered is registered, you will receive an email with further instructions.
Become part of the HIA community
Enables quick and easy registration for future events or learning and grants access to expert advice and valuable resources.
Create a guest account
Enter your details below and create a login
HIA Housing Policy Scoreboard
The HIA Housing Policy Scoreboard benchmarks each state and territory’s ability to address the housing crisis. Each region is ranked via ten critical policies/mechanisms designed to help Australians build new homes. These policy initiatives are either proven successful or are innovative new solutions likely to substantially improve state-wide housing supply.
While local governments are responsible for land use plans and development approvals, state governments spearhead city planning and the provision of housing-enabling infrastructure. As a result, they are crucial to confronting the prolonged structural housing supply issues that must be addressed nationwide.
The National Housing Accord set a target of building 1.2 million new homes across Australia over the next five years. Beyond forecasting each state’s ability to hit this ambitious goal, the Scoreboard report benchmarks the all-important housing policy mix against the backdrop of their housing targets.
HIA’s research outcomes outlined in the Scoreboard report are based on engagement with members of parliament in states/territories, engagement with government employees, the review of government websites, releases and budget papers, and liaison with HIA policy representatives.
Housing supply across Australia
The Scoreboard: state by state
South Australia
Western Australia
Victoria
Tasmania
New South Wales
Queensland
Northern Territory
Australian Capital Territory
South Australia - score 9/10
- Planning reforms and faster approvals: South Australia’s new Housing Roadmap includes a new planning system that could speed development by up to 18 months. The system’s online application lodgement will also streamline approval processes.
- Technology-driven innovation: The state uses an online land supply dashboard for transparency on land release information. AI is being utilised to automate development approvals for simpler applications that meet prescriptive criteria.
- Stamp duty removal for first home buyers: South Australia offers full stamp duty exemptions for first home buyers building or purchasing new homes, with no price cap.
- Skilled trades investment: The state is investing in residential construction training with more than 30,000 new training places planned over the next five years, plus 11% more funding for short course programs.
- Strong Housing Roadmap: South Australia has comprehensive housing policies that combine planning reforms, technology, skills investment, and affordability initiatives designed to meet the Housing Accord target.
Western Australia - score 8/10
- First home buyer incentives: Western Australia offers a stamp duty exemption for first home buyers on new homes. There is a price cap of $450,000 and a concession for homes under $600,000.
- Shared equity scheme: the state-based shared equity scheme enables people to potentially qualify to purchase some interest in their home. With a shared ownership loan, Western Australia’s Housing Authority can fund up to 30% of the cost of the home.
- Skilled labour investment: The government has committed $85 million to boost the residential construction workforce, including $37 million for apprenticeship incentives and $4 million to attract skilled migrants through the Construction Migration Office.
- Land supply transparency: Western Australia uses the Urban Growth Monitor (UGM) land supply dashboard to provide detailed information on land zoned for urban development. This enables more effective land supply tracking across the Perth metropolitan, Peel and Greater Bunbury regions.
- Land release and infrastructure: The state has initiated steps to de-constrain residential land and accelerate infrastructure delivery in response to Perth’s fast-rising dwelling prices and tight rental market, but further action is needed.
Victoria - score 6/10
- Victoria's housing policy shift: The government has ceded its position as a leader in innovative supply-focused housing policy. The government’s agenda now seems focused on increasing taxes rather than curbing them.
- Big Housing Build: The $5.3 billion initiative to deliver 12,000 new social and affordable homes is an aspirational goal. The 12 month cut to stamp duty for all off-the-plan units and townhouses should also help to boost supply of medium and high density homes.
- Shared equity scheme: The Victorian government boasts of a current first home buyer shared equity scheme. Suffice to say, it expires at the end of the current financial year. However, the stated intention is for the recently passed Commonwealth Government scheme, Help to Buy, to fill the void.
- Short Stay Levy concerns: The 7.5% tax on short-term rentals is aimed at funding social housing. However, fewer short-term rentals and steady demand may unintentionally raise rent prices.
- Additional taxes: New taxes include a windfall gains tax, land tax surcharges, and absentee owner surcharges are increasing the overall cost burden for home buyers.
Tasmania - score 6/10
- Shared equity program: Tasmania's MyHome program offers up to $300,000 or 40% of a home's purchase price to help buyers of new homes. This is aimed at improving home ownership accessibility.
- Stamp duty exemption: Tasmania offers support for first home buyers in the form of a stamp duty exemption. The policy allows for an exemption for established homes up to a threshold of $750,000.
- Build Up Tassie program: Tasmania has committed $4 million over six years to support young people (16-24) entering the construction industry through coaching, skills development, and industry exposure.
- Social housing focus: While heavily investing in social housing, the government lacks a balanced strategy that also addresses the needs of the wider population in the private rental and home ownership markets.
- Land supply and development issues: The state faces a shortage of residential land and has not committed to an accelerated land release or efficiency improvements in development approval processes. The $30 million 'headworks holiday' program is insufficient to address the broader land supply challenge.
New South Wales - score 6/10
- Development approval reforms: The government is expediting development with financial incentives for councils to meet new planning benchmarks. This includes $200 million in financial incentives for councils that meet the new expectations for development applications, planning proposals and strategic planning.
- Social housing: A $5.1 billion government investment will build at least 8,000 public homes. At least half of the homes will be prioritised for survivors of family and domestic violence.
- Stamp duty changes: The state government reduced the generous stamp duty exemption for first home buyers in 2023. The state now offers only partial concessions for homes valued at over $800,000. Unfortunately, median dwelling prices in the Greater Sydney area are often higher.
- Greenfield land supply challenges: New South Wales has failed to address the urgent need for more Greenfield land. There is an absence of a robust plan to accelerate the release of land for Greenfield development, or any sort of mechanism to monitor the supply of land for residential development.
- Faster approval avenues for major projects: Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) is accepting Expressions of Interest for major residential projects to be assessed through a new faster approval pathway. Eligible projects must be valued at over approximately $60 million in Greater Sydney (on average 100 or more homes) and $30 million (on average 40 or more homes) in regional NSW, which rules out a lot of low-medium density development.
Queensland - score 5/10
- First home buyer support: The Queensland Government boasts a generous first homeowner grant. With a grant of $30,000 on new homes, the state government is prioritising both new home building and the challenging pathway into home ownership for first home buyers.
- Statutory housing targets: Queensland has mandatory housing targets under regional plans. The state claims to be the only jurisdiction setting statutory dwelling supply goals (including by dwelling type for each council area).
- Land supply and approval issues: Queensland faces inconsistencies in land supply monitoring and slow development approvals, particularly for apartments. Urgent reforms are required to streamline processes and improve transparency.
- Planning reforms: The state is pushing for clearer strategic direction and faster decisions on higher-density housing. To facilitate this, there is a new development team dedicated to resolving planning and infrastructure delays.
- Stamp duty: The government's intention to remove stamp duty for first home buyers is praised, but the policy would be more effective if applied to all new home buyers, not just first-time buyers.
Northern Territory - score 5/10
- Stamp duty exemption: The Northern Territory offers a full stamp duty exemption on new houses through the House and Land Package Exemption (HLPE), with no means test or property value cap, benefiting new homebuyers.
- HomeBuild Access scheme: This program allows homebuyers to access low deposit home loans for building new homes or buying vacant land to build on.
- Investment in remote housing: The Northern Territory government is committing $4 billion over 10 years with the Commonwealth to build up to 270 homes annually in remote communities, aiming to reduce overcrowding.
- Planning system challenges: The Northern Territory’s planning system lacks clear strategic direction and effective implementation of guidelines, with a need for better planning and streamlined development approvals.
- Limited first home buyer support: The Northern Territory’s housing policy does not adequately address the challenges faced by first home buyers, who are increasingly struggling to enter the market. The Territory Government would benefit from an expedited introduction of a first homeowner grant or shared equity scheme.
Australian Capital Territory - score 4/10
- Dual-occupancy developments: The policy allowing dual-occupancy developments in RZ1 zones is positive, but high lease variation charges (LVC) of up to $50,000 in some suburbs are a barrier. This has been reflected via a low initial take-up rate.
- Stamp duty relief (Home Buyer Concession): For properties less than or equal to $1 million, there is no duty payable. There is a concessional/lower rate of duty payable for transactions up to $1,455,000. Unfortunately, the concession cap is low at only $34,270. Furthermore, only a modest proportion of detached houses in the Australian Capital Territory would be inside the dwelling price cap of $1 million.
- Lack of planning policy: The Australian Capital Territory’s housing roadmap lacks key policies to streamline planning processes, hindering sustained new home supply over the next five years.
- Land release vs. demand: Significant increases in house and land values in Canberra highlight the need for accelerated land release and improved development application pathways to address housing demand.
- Development transparency: Streamlining the land development process and enhancing transparency would help meet the National Housing Accord target and manage land value appreciation and affordability.
How the Scoreboard was built
The Scoreboard measures the states and territories based on ten key policy initiatives that impact supply:
- New housing targets
- First home buyer stamp duty exemption
- Stamp duty exemption on new housing
- Fast-tracked land release program
- Investment in residential building trades
- First homeowner grant
- First home buyer shared equity scheme
- Fast-tracked development approvals
- Land supply dashboard
- Social housing targets and investment
Share with your network:
More articles on:
Find the latest expert advice, guides and much more!
Was this page helpful?
Thank you for submitting your feedback.
All Hands on Deck: Construction workforce requirements report
Trade shortages loom as a major threat to the Housing Accord’s target of building 1.2 million homes over the next five years.
HIA Planning Blueprint Scorecard
HIA's Planning Blueprint Scorecard grades the planning system of each state and outlines key areas of improvement to achieve the Accord target of 1.2 million homes.
Taxation's major impact on housing affordability
HIA commissioned The Centre for International Economics (CIE) to perform an investigation of the magnitude of statutory taxes and regulatory costs in housing costs.