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$vuetify.icons.faPhone1300 650 620

Ambitious response to deliver better housing outcomes

Media release

Ambitious response to deliver better housing outcomes

Media release
“Having a place to call home is fundamental. An address improves employment prospects, makes it easier for children to go to school, maintain community connections and provides security and contributes to wellbeing. For many of us purchasing a home is the biggest investment we make in our lives. But put simply there are not enough homes to go around,” said Jocelyn Martin, Deputy Managing Director – Industry and Policy, HIA

“HIA has consistently recognised that tackling housing supply requires a multi disciplined approach across all levels of government. Today’s outcome of the National Cabinet meeting in Brisbane was a significant step towards reforming the planning system and committing to build more homes.

“The Government’s target of 1.2 million homes over five years is ambitious but is needed if we are going to meet current and future demands for housing and keep housing affordable.

“All the economic indicators are pointing to a slowdown in the commencement of new homes. Since the first increase in the cash rate, sales of new homes have fallen sharply and are 41.8 percent lower than at the same time last year and 26.2 per cent lower than at the same time in 2019.

“HIA’s Economic and Industry Outlook report released on Tuesday shows detached housing starts are expected to fall from a peak of 149,300 in June 2021 to just 95,370 in 2024, the lowest number since 2012. Multi-unit commencements in 2022 were at a decade low at 63,510 and experienced only a modest increase in 2023 at 69,680.

“The Government’s announcement today including the New Home Bonus, the Housing Support Program and the National Planning Blueprint hits right at the heart of the issues which need to be addressed.

“These plans are ambitious. Local councils will need to be prepared to deliver shovel ready land at an affordable price. This is not something that has been easy to achieve in the past.

“HIA calls on all levels of Government to take the housing supply issue seriously and commit to passing the legislation and staying the course with these new initiatives,” Ms Martin said.

For more information please contact:

Jocelyn Martin

Managing Director

Joe Shanahan

Manager, Communications & Media
Latest articles
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11 Mar
Off-the-Plan Contracts and Obsolete Restrictive Covenants

The Housing Industry Association (HIA) takes this opportunity to respond to the Discussion Paper (Paper) on the review of Contracts and Covenants released by the Office of Registrar General on 22 January 2025. The Paper explores potential reforms to laws governing off-the-plan contracts and covenants.

10 Mar
What is the minimum upstand for external waterproofing?

AS 4654.2 specifies the design and installation requirements for external waterproofing. An upstand is an important part of a system to prevent water entry - but how high should the upstand be? Find out more.

07 Mar
A concrete plan to boost number of women in construction is needed beyond pink hi-vis and toilets

“Too often we continue to see announcements to increase the number of women in construction, which involve donning pink hi-vis', walking around a building site and then talking about more site toilets,” said Jocelyn Martin, HIA Managing Director.

06 Mar
Signs of housing supply life in unit approvals (NSW)

“The volume of unit approvals in the three months to January 2025 was nearly double what it was in the same period a year ago,” stated HIA Executive Director, NSW, Brad Armitage.