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{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change locationApprovals reflect good momentum heading into 2026
Approvals reflect good momentum heading into 2026
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The Australian Bureau of Statistics today released its monthly building approvals data for April 2026 for detached houses and multi-units covering all states and territories.
“The decline in April did not upset the positive underlying trend, with approvals in the three months to April still 12.1 per cent higher than the same quarter a year earlier, including +9.3 per cent for houses and +16.0 per cent for multi-units,” added Mr Devitt.
“The data continues to reflect the good momentum in Australian home building heading into 2026, supported by elevated population growth, low unemployment and last year’s rate cutting cycle.
“The value of alterations and additions approved in the latest three months was also 14.0 per cent greater than the same quarter a year earlier. This reflects the underlying demand for housing in Australia pitted against land constraints, which is pushing more households into the renovations segment.
“Recent headwinds surrounding rising interest rates, Budget announcements and international turmoil are likely to have a more noticeable impact on the data in the second half of the year.
“Interest rates were already on the way up in response to higher-than-expected inflation in the second half of last year.
“Elevated population growth and government spending have kept both inflation and interest rates higher than they otherwise would be, even as households and private sector businesses remain constrained.
“Recent Budget changes will add to market uncertainty and disrupt the momentum that was evident in early this year.
“These issues magnify the importance of the role of governments to reduce the cost of delivering a new home to market.
“Australia is not expected to build enough homes to meet current and future demands.
“Taxes and regulations on home building need to be reduced and skills shortages addressed, if Australia is to meet its housing targets.
“Budget measures to deliver ‘enabling’ infrastructure like transport and utilities will support home building over the medium-to-long term,” concluded Mr Devitt.
In seasonally adjusted terms, Queensland saw the largest increase in new home approvals in the three months to April 2026, compared to the same quarter a year earlier, up by 24.4 per cent. This was followed by Victoria (+13.5 per cent), New South Wales and Western Australia (+9.0 per cent), and Tasmania (+8.0 per cent), while South Australia saw a 1.4 per cent decline. In original terms, the Australian Capital Territory saw a decline of 12.2 per cent, followed by the Northern Territory (-3.3 per cent).
Monthly Building Approvals - Australia
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Increases to annual minimum wage
The Fair Work Commission handed down its Annual Minimum Wage decision today with a 4.75 per cent increase to the national minimum wage and modern award minimum wages.
Approvals reflect good momentum heading into 2026
“Building approvals ticked down by 3.4 per cent in April, including a 0.9 per cent decline for detached houses and a 7.2 per cent decline for multi-units,” stated HIA Senior Economist Tom Devitt.
Wage ruling will increase housing costs and hit small builders hardest
“The Housing Industry Association (HIA) is deeply concerned with today’s Fair Work Commission decision to increase the Minimum Award Wages by 4.75 per cent, which will make it harder to deliver new homes at the scale Australia urgently needs,” said HIA Managing Director, Jocelyn Martin.
NCC 2022 to continue in Tasmania until May 2027
The Tasmanian Parliament has passed the Building Amendment Bill 2026, confirming a revised approach to how the National Construction Code will apply in Tasmania.