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The Australian Bureau of Statistics today released its monthly building approvals data for August 2024 for detached houses and multi-units covering all states and territories.
“Detached house approvals rose by 0.6 per cent compared to July. House approvals in the three months to August 2024 were 11.2 per cent higher compared to the same time the previous year,” added Mr Reardon.
“The steady increase in detached house approvals is offsetting a low volume of multi-unit approvals and total dwelling approvals in the three months to August 2024 were 5.0 per cent higher compared to same time in the previous year.
“Rising tax imposts on foreign investors and rising regulatory costs are compounding the challenges for apartment builders.
“It has been almost eleven months since the last increase in the cash rate. Stable interest rate settings have provided the certainty needed to see a rise in home building confidence.
“This is complemented by stabilising price growth for building materials, a return to normal build times, strong housing demand and low unemployment.
“Detached house approvals in Perth and Brisbane are faring much better than in Sydney and Melbourne. Confidence in the Melbourne new home market has been adversely impacted by two new taxes.
“The Australian Government cannot tax its way out of achieving the agreed national target of 1.2 million new homes.
“Recent discussions on negative gearing and capital gains tax arrangements for residential property will undermine confidence in new home building.
“The government’s focus should be on lowering the taxes, regulatory costs and excessive charges that make up as much as 50 per cent of the final cost of a house and land package,” concluded Mr Reardon.
House approvals over the three months to August 2024 increased by 47.5 per cent in Western Australia compared to the same time in the previous year. This was followed by Queensland (+19.7 per cent), South Australia (+10.0 per cent) and Victoria (+8.4 per cent). The other jurisdictions recorded a decline over the same period, led by the Australian Capital Territory (-18.6 per cent), followed by Tasmania (-17.8 per cent), New South Wales (-7.6 per cent) and the Northern Territory (-6.8 per cent).
“The focus on Fee Free TAFE is distracting from the real issue facing the supply of housing in Australia. Successive governments have been aware of the persistent and structural skill shortages across key construction trades for decades and the current policy approaches are doing very little to shift the dial,” said HIA Managing Director Jocelyn Martin.
Reports featured in the media today are a good reminder that home ownership still matters to Australians, and we need to build more housing, of all types to keep the dream of home ownership alive,” said Brad Armitage, HIA Executive Director NSW.
On behalf of all of us at HIA we would like to wish you a very happy 2025! As everyone heads back to work for the new year, we are sharing some exclusive member updates to get you ready for what lies ahead and perhaps what you might have missed while you were away.
HIA has read with interest the Homes for NSW Discussion Paper, and particularly the intention to deliver more and better homes and develop a system that is flexible enough to respond to emerging needs and new approaches.