Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Business
Peter Hannam

Why has Australia fallen so short on housing targets – and how can it get out of the crisis?

Builders on a roof
One observer says the construction industry has ‘been allowed to gradually decline in its robustness and its competency’ for the past 25 years. Photograph: Brendan Esposito/AAP

It has been clear for some time that Australia is unlikely to come close to meeting the Albanese government’s goal of 1.2m new homes over the five years from last July.

The National Housing Supply and Affordability Council, set up late in 2023, expects “just under 1m homes” over that period – an estimate in line with bodies such as the Housing Industry Association. Approvals barely topped 160,000 last financial year, or just two-thirds of the government’s desired annual target.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.