Business council blames slow local decision-making for feeding Australia’s housing supply crisis

Apartment buildings in Zetland, Sydney. The Business Council of Australia is urging state governments to ‘turbocharge the assessment and approval process’ for new developments. Photograph: Andrew Merry/Getty Images

Local councils would be forced to set deadlines for deciding on housing development applications and lose approval rights if they cannot stick to them, under a proposal from the national peak body representing big business.

The Business Council of Australia is urging state governments to force local councils to consult housing development proponents and set agreed deadlines, case by case, for ruling on their applications – then be held accountable for meeting them.