“The Productivity Commission has delivered a clear roadmap to improving housing supply and affordability. While HIA welcomes the Government’s support for the majority of recommendations, the refusal to address key barriers imposed by local governments through the planning system is a significant missed opportunity. The QPC report is clear: many of the current barriers to productivity in the construction sector remain at the local government level,” said Sam Heckel, HIA Executive Director Planning & Development.

“If a positive partnership between state and local government means maintaining a patchwork of inconsistent rules, it is a partnership that fails new homebuyers. By refusing to mandate statewide planning requirements or remove outdated zoning practices, the Government is protecting local bureaucracy instead of prioritising housing supply. 

“The industry is also concerned by the Government’s outright rejection of a statewide DA portal, a tool already successfully modernising housing delivery in New South Wales and South Australia. 

“Meaningful change in housing affordability requires a total commitment to reform, not just the parts that are politically convenient. To truly lower construction costs, every recommendation of the Productivity Commission should have been adopted in full,” concluded Mr Heckel. 

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