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The RBA had its May Monetary Policy Board meeting today where it sets the target for its benchmark cash rate and releases its new forecasts.
“The volume of home building has fallen to its lowest volume in more than a decade following the rise in the cash rate from April 2022,” added Mr Devitt.
“Today’s cut, along with an expectation of further cuts in 2025, will improve market conditions and confidence and continue to support an increase in the volume of homes commencing construction.
“Even with further rate cuts, the volume of new homes commencing construction will fall well short of the governments goal of 1.2 million new homes.
“Structural reforms to the way in which new homes are taxed, approved, financed and constructed are required to increase the supply of homes to match demand and address the housing shortage.
“The first rate cut this cycle was delivered in February, following data showing that trimmed mean inflation – the RBA’s preferred measure of inflation – fell to 3.2 per cent in 2024, below their own forecasts.
“Now with trimmed mean inflation falling to 2.9 per cent in the 12 months to March, returning to the 2-3 per cent target band for the first time since 2021, the RBA was comfortable delivering its second rate cut, bringing the cash rate to 3.85 per cent.
“If the banks pass on today’s decision to their own mortgage rates, these two cuts will be very helpful in getting more aspiring home buyers across the line and into their own home.
“Several states, like Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia, are already seeing improving home building volumes on the ground on the back of strong population growth, tight labour markets and recovering household incomes.
“Reduced mortgage costs will provide an added boost and potentially also bring some of the lagging states back to the table.
“As it stands, Australia is set to build less than 1 million new homes over the government’s target five-year period, almost 20 per cent short of national housing targets and a long way from addressing the national housing crisis,” concluded Mr Devitt
The HIA has been advised that due to an increase of plumbing audit inspection failures, from the 1st of September, the Office of the Technical Regulator (OTR) will be further policing non-compliance in the installation of sanitary plumbing and drainage pipework, namely the bedding of sanitary drainage pipes.
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has welcomed the establishment of the Senate Economics References Committee Inquiry into social housing, describing it as an important opportunity to identify the reforms needed to deliver more housing of all forms at scale and address the bottlenecks holding back housing supply broadly.
“Sales of new homes declined for a third consecutive month in July, falling by 3.7 per cent as higher interest rates and policy uncertainty continued to weigh on consumer confidence,” stated HIA Senior Economist, Tom Devitt.
HIA is proudly supporting National Skills Week this year by highlighting the construction industry’s many and diverse career opportunities.