The Property Council of Australia has welcomed the Albanese Government’s new Ministry and encouraged the incoming Housing Minister to focus on quick wins ahead of the Federal election.
Current YouGov polling shows housing affordability trumps living standards and health as the top issue facing the nation.
Property Council of Australia Chief Executive Mike Zorbas said the new Housing Minister has five levers to pull quicksmart to reach the 1.2 million homes target by 2029.
“We congratulate Claire O’Neil on her appointment as Minister for Housing and Minister for ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾lessness, and we will work closely with her to bridge the housing gap by the end of the decade,” Mr Zorbas said.
“The platform is a good one. A national housing target. Tick. A Supply Council to measure housing supply progress and blockages. Tick.
“The Minister has five policy levers that could bridge the almost 300,000 home gap we face by 2029.
“We need a new funding boost on last-mile infrastructure for states and local governments to unlock new homes.
“We need more construction labour across the board to fill huge skills gaps across the country.
“We need to ensure that mortgages are not just for the rich and give young first-home buyers a better chance of accessing credit for housing.
“We need fit-for-purpose build-to-rent housing legislation that can deliver more new homes, including low-income housing, than the previously announced 40,000 homes by 2029 under the Housing Australia Future Fund.
“And we need best practice policy support on tax, targets and planning for high community benefit housing that provides more accommodation and services to seniors and students at less cost to the taxpayer.
“That means prioritising purpose-built student accommodation and more retirement living communities in cities and towns across the country.
“We thank outgoing Housing Minister Julie Collins for being the first steward of historic national housing targets and for establishing the Housing Australia Future Fund and the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Housing Affordability and Supply Council.
“Minister Collins achieved the creation of these vehicles in a Parliament bitterly divided on housing solutions and both can and should be game changers over time,” Mr Zorbas said.
Separately, the Property Council notes the work of Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Jenny McAllister, whose promotion to the Ministry as the Minister for Cities and the Minister for Emergency Management follows her strong work on energy efficiency policies to reduce Australia’s emissions.
“It’s great to see the elevation of the Cities portfolio, and we look forward to working with Jenny McAllister in her role as a steward for Australian cities as they decarbonise, become more productive economic centres, and house our growing population,” Mr Zorbas said.
