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.
If you are having problems logging in, please call HIA helpdesk on 1300 650 620 during business hours.
Enables quick and easy registration for future events or learning and grants access to expert advice and valuable resources.
Enter your details below and create a login
“If it is the case that public housing developments are being unfairly held up, then comparable private housing developments should be treated the same way,” said Greg Weller, HIA Executive Director ACT & Southern NSW.
“What is good for the goose, is surely good for the gander.
“It will generally be the same trades and professionals across developments, the only difference being the client – which in this case is ultimately the ACT Government.
“The fact that the Minister acknowledges that 75% of appeals were resolved with mediation or by ACAT upholding the original decision, also shows that there is a lot of time and money being wasted by people who just want to stop any development.
“The ACT has just recorded the worst building approval numbers for detached homes in 55 years, with only 680 dwellings approved in 2024. The even bigger story is apartments and townhouses, with only 1,500 multi-residential dwellings approved in 2024. This is the lowest number of approvals since 2009.
“We need to pull every lever available to improve housing delivery. Every new home matters to helping improve affordability.
“To be clear, this call does not mean there should be no process or scrutiny on developments, far from it. But it is reasonable for someone investing in additional housing stock for Canberra to expect that once their project has been through a rigorous planning approval processes managed by the ACT government, that they can get on with work.
“The first umpire’s decision needs to be final,” concluded Mr Weller.
Workplace laws are set for more changes in 2026.
Australia’s residential building industry has entered the new year with confidence still on shaky ground for small businesses as rising costs and policy uncertainty continue to cloud the outlook.
Tasmania’s housing market slowed in November, with building approvals falling sharply compared to October. Approvals for new homes dropped almost 20 per cent, and even after seasonal adjustment, the decline was 5.8 per cent.
Australia’s home building industry is expected to strengthen through 2026, supported by gradually improving building approvals and a recovery in demand, but the pace of growth will ultimately depend on how quickly interest rates can fall further, according to the Housing Industry Association.