Canberra. Day two of Parliament’s first sitting week for 2023. We timed our housing thought leadership launch to coincide with the government’s first big tranche of legislation, housing.
Launched with Housing Minister Julie Collins, “A Stark Reality” highlights the national supply gap and the productivity deficits of our city planning systems.
As part of this we continue to highlight the need for levelling the investment playing field for Build-to-Rent. Likewise, the role of Retirement Living and Purpose-Built Student Accommodation must play if we are to give our communities true housing choice.*
The 700 or so national media hits on launch day reinforces our view that Australians are increasingly aware of the causes of this supply deficit.
As part of this paper we laid out a five-point plan to boost housing choice and affordability for a growing Australia:
- Holding governments to account and incentivising them to deliver
- Delivering the housing we need, where we need it
- Great and sustainable cities
- Supporting people who need it most
- Unlocking investment in new forms of housing.
Clearly the higher overall housing supply, the more downward pressure on at-market, affordable and social housing whether bought, rented or received.
In response to these drivers, the government is seeking to set up the Housing Australia Future Fund, the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council, and Housing Australia (the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation with key nips and tucks).
We welcome this package as a positive step towards addressing the national housing shortage.
Whatever the fate of these mechanisms, Australian Government attention on the national housing and land supply deficit, greenfield and brownfield, is the only way to bring us back into housing balance.
* This paper is one of several furthering our 2022-25 Strategic Plan, which doubles down on our commitment to thought leadership on the issues that matter to our industry.
