{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.text}} {{region}} Change location{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change location {{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.text}} {{region}} Change location{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change locationFurther reforms needed to get more keys in doors now
Further reforms needed to get more keys in doors now
Member and guest login
Enter your email and password to access secured content, members only resources and discount prices.
Did you become a member online? If not, you will need to activate your account to login.
If you are having problems logging in, please call HIA helpdesk on 1300 650 620 during business hours.
Forgotten password
Need some help?
If you are having problems logging in, please call HIA helpdesk on 1300 650 620 during business hours.
If the email address you have entered is registered, you will receive an email with further instructions.
Become part of the HIA community
Enables quick and easy registration for future events or learning and grants access to expert advice and valuable resources.
Create a guest account
Enter your details below and create a login
Send me exclusive tips, early access to new launches, and special offers. I can change my mind at any time.
By clicking Get started now you agree to the terms and conditions and privacy policy.
“Whilst HIA supports the establishment of the HDA, you will not see any keys in doors for several years and it does not address the barriers crippling the housing industry right now”.
“ABS data released yesterday shows that housing approvals continue to decline in NSW with no signs of a recovery in sight. Broader reforms are needed to encourage more detached and medium density residential projects which can be constructed faster.”
“Recent planning reforms announced by the NSW Government including the low and mid-rise housing reforms were supposed to deliver 112,000 homes over 5 years. To date, these reforms have been largely ineffective in delivering any new housing,“ stated Mr Armitage.
“Stage 1 of the reforms permitting dual occupancies and semi-detached homes in the R2 low-density zone introduced last July are not workable because the policy lacks any supporting planning controls. These reforms rely on existing council rules which are too restrictive to enable developments to occur. The Government is also yet to release Stage 2 of the reforms for mid-rise housing around town centres and stations more than 12 months after the policy was originally proposed.”
Planning controls though are just one aspect of the problem. “Right now there are too many obstacles to new housing throughout the development process,“ continued Mr Armitage.
This includes:
- Developer charges such as the Housing and Productivity Contribution, council infrastructure contributions, and Sydney Water Development Servicing Plan fees which combined can exceed $130,000 for every new housing lot in parts of Western Sydney.
- Changes to development standards which reduce the ability to access the fast track complying development pathway meaning slower and more complex approvals.
- Excessive planning controls and onerous conditions of approval imposed by councils.
- Amendments to the National Construction Code which make housing more expensive to build.
“At the current rate there is no way we will build anywhere near the 377,000 new homes required to meet our housing targets. It is time for the NSW Government to get serious and take action to address the current low levels of building activity in NSW” concluded Mr Armitage.
For more information please contact:
Hobart named Australia's most restrictive city for planning
Hobart has been identified as the most restrictive capital city in Australia for planning, according to the Australian Zoning Atlas, which found 97 per cent of the city's residential land is subject to restrictions that limit new housing.
Agreement unlocks long-awaited land for new homes in the ACT
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has welcomed the agreement between the ACT and Commonwealth Governments to facilitate the redevelopment of the under-utilised CSIRO land, describing it as an important step towards increasing housing supply in the Territory.
Update: contracts signed before 1 July 2026 and optional cover
HIA will continue to update you as we receive further advice and information on the ongoing transition from Domestic Building Insurance (DBI) to the First Resort Home Warranty Scheme (FRHWS).
Six-month lifeline no substitute for permanent fire testing solution
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has welcomed the decision to extend the lease of CSIRO's North Ryde fire testing facility by six months, saying the announcement provides valuable breathing space but does not resolve the long-term threat to Australia's building product testing capability.