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The Australian Bureau of Statistics today released its monthly building approvals data for January 2024 for detached houses and multi-units covering all states and territories.
“Detached home building approvals fell by 9.6 per cent in the month of January 2024. This decline leaves approvals 5.3 per cent lower in the three-month period to January compared to the previous year,” added Mr Reardon.
“Multi-unit approvals have increased by 14.5 per cent in January from very low volumes in the previous month. The three-month period to January saw multi-unit approvals decline by 15.4 per cent compared to the previous year.
“The low volume of building approvals throughout 2023 will see the volume of homes commencing construction continue to slow this year. The rise in the cash rate is the primary cause of this slowdown in approvals.
“Approvals have declined across all jurisdictions, however, there is an increasing divergence among the jurisdictions as the rise in the cash rate falls disproportionately on those markets with higher land costs,” concluded Mr Reardon.
In seasonally adjusted terms, dwelling approvals in the three months to January increased only in Western Australia, up by 26.4 per cent compared to the previous year. Other jurisdictions saw declines in approvals, led by Tasmania (-29.8 per cent), followed by the Northern Territory (-26.0 per cent), New South Wales (-17.6 per cent), South Australia (-13.4 per cent), Victoria (-12.2 per cent) Queensland (-10.0 per cent), and the Australian Capital Territory (-3.9 per cent).
Despite the nation falling behind in its housing targets, the Federal Government has left apprentices and employers in limbo with uncertainty of funding beyond Christmas, says the Housing Industry Association (HIA).
“Home renovation activity nears record high, boosted by rising home prices and low unemployment,” stated Tim Reardon, HIA Chief Economist.
“Today is a great day for the housing industry in NSW with passage of the Planning System Reforms Bill 2025 through parliament,” said Brad Armitage, HIA NSW Executive Director.
Starting 1 July 2026, domestic building insurance (DBI) will only be available through the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC), which has replaced the VMIA in providing this product.