Wednesday 28 August 2024
MEDIA RELEASE
Ministerial council focus on skilled visas for housing supply welcomed, more action on build-to-rent needed
The Property Council of Australia has welcomed the federal Housing Minister’s focus on simplifying skilled visas to help deliver new housing supply, following a meeting of the nation’s housing ministers in Sydney yesterday.
Chief Executive of the Property Council of Australia Mike Zorbas said housing supply and affordability pressures are being felt across the nation, and that more new homes to buy and to rent are sorely needed.
He also warned that all Federal parties needed to find a way forward on the 105,000 new build-to-rent homes currently being held up in the Senate.
“We need to turbocharge the delivery of housing to reach our big welcome 1.2 million new homes target by 2029,” Mr Zorbas said.
“Housing Minister O’Neil has rightly shone a light on unlocking supply of new homes direct with states as we navigate a way through the housing crisis.
“A big part of this is having extra talent and skills on tap to build these homes via a simplified visa system.
“We also need to provide states and local governments with the necessary funding to connect essential infrastructure like sewage, water and power to our growing communities.
“We now need the major parties to support the Federal cross benchers who are backing improvements to build-to-rent legislation that will unlock 105,000 long-tenured rental homes by 2034.
“Addressing the housing crisis demands urgent collaboration across all levels of government, alongside industry and the profit-for-purpose sector, to tackle the structural issues holding back supply across our cities and regional centres,” he said.
ENDS
Media contact: Rhys Prka | 0425 113 273 | [email protected]
Ellie Laing-Southwood | 0416 007 830 | [email protected]