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{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change locationMore tax on housing is not the answer to inflation
More tax on housing is not the answer to inflation
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“HIA’s 2026–27 Pre-Budget Submission outlines a suite of supply-side reforms across taxation, finance, infrastructure, planning, skills and regulation to support delivery of the Government’s target of 1.2 million homes by 2029,” HIA Managing Director, Jocelyn Martin said today.
“Importantly, it highlights that persistent housing undersupply is contributing to inflation pressures, worsening rental conditions and constraining economic growth.
“Housing supply is no longer a cyclical issue, it is a macroeconomic problem. If we want to ease inflation, improve productivity and restore affordability, we must remove the barriers preventing new homes from being built.
“Housing is already one of the most heavily taxed sectors in the economy. Further tax changes, including to negative gearing or capital gains tax, would undermine investment, reduce feasibility and worsen affordability,” she said.
“HIA has also calling for a review of cumulative macroprudential settings, warning restrictions on lending are locking first home buyers out of the market and adding pressure to rents without addressing the underlying supply problem.
“To unlock stalled apartment projects, HIA has proposed a national program to expand state-based pre-sale finance guarantee schemes. Across the country there are projects ready to go but stuck because of financing constraints. This is a solvable problem if housing supply is treated as a national priority.
“We estimate that the nation could need as much $5 billion boost to ‘last-mile’ enabling infrastructure funding to get homes shovel-ready sooner.
“Addressing construction workforce shortages is also central to lifting supply. HIA has called for the long-term continuation of employer apprentice incentives, funding for pre-apprenticeship programs, targeted trade migration pathways and improved skills recognition processes for migrants.
“Housing targets will not be met without a larger workforce. Business as usual will not deliver the trades numbers Australia needs,” Ms Martin said.
HIA has also urged the Government to reduce regulatory burden by moving the National Construction Code to a five-year amendment cycle, providing free access to Australian Standards and cutting cumulative red, white and green tape adding unnecessary cost to new homes.
“The 2026–27 Budget will be a test of whether housing supply is taken seriously. The focus must be on stability, coordination and reforms that increase supply, not measures suppressing it,” concluded Ms Martin.
For more information please contact:
Senate Inquiry EPBC Reform Implementation
Opening statement by HIA Chief Executive Industry & Policy, Simon Croft
HIA calls for bold housing reforms in 2026–27 ACT Budget
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has called on the ACT Government to use the 2026/27 Budget to reset the Territory’s approach to housing supply, land release and business competitiveness, warning that current policy settings are constraining new home building and worsening affordability and forcing more home owners and businesses to look over the border to NSW to call home.
2026-27 Budget Submission to the ACT Treasury
HIA provided the 2026-27 Budget submission with key objectives and recommendations to the ACT Treasury.
HIA warns against tax changes at Senate hearing
HIA appeared this week before the Senate Select Committee on the Operation of the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) Discount and delivered the simple message - you don’t fix a housing shortage by taxing housing harder.