Australia’s residential housing industry stands at a pivotal moment, presenting a powerful opportunity to shape vibrant communities and strengthen the nation’s economy. Under the leadership of HIA Managing Director Jocelyn Martin, the association is advocating for practical, future-focused reforms that not only support builders and building professionals but also ensure that more Australians can achieve the dream of home ownership.

At the heart of HIA’s vision is an unwavering belief in the importance of supply. As Jocelyn puts it, ‘There's an acute shortage of housing around the country. The only solution to this problem is to increase the supply of new homes by removing the barriers.' This call to action is both urgent and grounded in the reality builders face daily. Australia’s goal of delivering 1.2 million new homes in five years is ambitious, but Jocelyn believes it’s achievable with the right policy settings and industry support.

Builders know better than anyone that supply constraints lead directly to price pressures. In 2023 and 2024, new home commencements remained at around 166,000 — the lowest volume since 2012. Jocelyn has been clear about the role governments play in compounding this issue: 'Governments impose significant costs on new home building that have restricted the supply of new homes over recent decades. In Sydney, up to $575,000 of the cost of a new house and land package is just taxes, fees and charges.'

This isn’t just a developer’s problem; it directly affects first homebuyers, who bear a disproportionate burden. 'First homebuyers must save to pay for stamp duty upfront and don't have the benefit of the equity in existing housing assets to support their purchase,' Jocelyn explained. HIA’s message to governments at all levels is direct: 'In addition to these policies, governments need to work together to stop increasing the cost of homes by ensuring all agencies are coordinated and focused on reducing the cost of home building.'

Workforce development is another challenge. Currently, Australia needs more than 83,000 additional tradespeople to meet its housing targets, a figure that doesn’t even include shortages in key professional roles such as designers, certifiers, planners, engineers and project managers. Jocelyn has long argued that 'business-as-usual approaches to addressing these critical shortages won't cut it’.

Addressing this, recent government initiatives to fast-track trade qualifications have been welcomed. 'The recent announcement from the Labor Government of $78 million in funding to fast-track the qualification of up to 6000 skilled trades is an important initiative which will help get more homes built quicker,' says Jocelyn.

At HIA, diversity and inclusion remain front of mind. 'Too often we continue to see announcements to increase the number of women in construction, which involve donning pink hi-vis, walking around a building site and then talking about more site toilets.' For Jocelyn, a genuine, lasting impact requires a 'much more comprehensive and substantive plan that addresses this multi-decade issue from all angles'.

She outlined a suite of measures, including long-term programs to promote construction careers in primary schools, ambassador-led engagement, increased apprenticeship support, and targeted campaigns for mature-aged workers. Initiatives such as She Builds The Future, which launched in partnership with MiTek, further exemplify this commitment. By inspiring and educating young women on the range of jobs available, the online program fosters a culture of inclusion that's essential for the industry's long-term wellbeing.

When it comes to policy coordination, Jocelyn has strongly supported the recent move to consolidate all key housing functions under a single federal ministerial portfolio. 'This is a significant and long overdue step forward to deliver a nationally coordinated approach to housing,' she says. 'It's HIA's strong belief this action will help cut red tape, lift productivity and ultimately improve housing outcomes for Australians by removing the current siloed and disjointed approach to addressing the major impediments to greater housing supply.'

Now celebrating our 80th anniversary , HIA is committed to advocating for the bold, coordinated reforms necessary not only to meet Australia’s housing targets but to create a stronger, more inclusive industry that builders can be proud of for decades to come.

First published on 21 August