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$vuetify.icons.faPhone1300 650 620

Housing productivity key for second term Albanese government

Media release

Housing productivity key for second term Albanese government

Media release
In his address today at the National Press Club, the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese MP highlighted the challenges with home building and regulations in Australia. He stated, “if we can cut through on some of the red tape, then that will reduce costs.”

“HIA is pleased to hear the Prime Minister acknowledge the challenges with increasing housing supply and addressing housing affordability in Australia,” stated HIA Managing Director Jocelyn Martin.

The Prime Minister highlighted the Australian Government’s agenda in its second term, will be on economic growth and productivity. 

“Identifying that priorities will be on driving faster approvals for housing, energy and infrastructure projects, making it easier for Australian innovators and investing in the skills our nation needs.

“The Prime Minister announced that the Treasurer will convene a roundtable with industry leaders in August, and HIA calls on the government to include housing front and centre in the discussion as part of shaping future economic growth and productivity,” added Ms Martin.

“During the campaign, the Albanese Labor Government committed to helping more first home buyers enter the market which included supporting all Australians into housing with a 5% deposit, something that HIA has advocated for. 

“But this in itself will not deliver more homes and boost supply and in order to do so, governments need to help lower the cost of delivering new homes.

“The process of home building in itself is quick and efficient. Government red tape and excessive regulation have been the key reasons why it is so difficult to increase supply.

“The Productivity Commission’s Can We Fix It? Report on Housing Productivity called on efforts to “eliminate bottlenecks in the system and provide certainty to the residential building industry.” 

“HIA’s 2025 Report on the Taxation of the Housing Sector found that almost half of the cost of a new home are taxes, fees and regulatory charges.

“While housing policy is largely influenced at a state and local level, this does not mean that the Australian Government can shy away from ambitious housing policies and reforms.

“This should include policies that would help deliver more land to market to meet demand, attract more workers into the industry and to ease the taxes and unnecessary regulations imposed on building a new home,” concluded Ms Martin.

As the Housing Minister Clare O’Neil pointed out over the weekend, “It’s just too hard to build a house in this country. And that that “the nation’s housing crisis is in part the result of 40 years of unceasing new regulation across three levels of government” This was a point reinforced by the Prime Minister himself today.

For more information please contact:

Jocelyn Martin

Managing Director

Simon Croft

Chief Executive - Industry & Policy
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