Home Property Australia Housing Availability and Affordability passed with amendments

Housing Availability and Affordability passed with amendments

  • April 26, 2024
  • by Property Australia
Parliament passed the Housing Availability and Affordability bill on Tuesday 16 April.

In Parliament on Tuesday 16 April, the Housing Availability and Affordability (Planning and Other Legislation Amendment) Bill 2023 was passed with amendments.

The Bill includes a suite of changes proposed to fast track housing, including a new State Facilitated Development (SFD).

Applications will be assessed by a new SFD team who will fast track assessment of development applications for infill housing developments that deliver diverse and affordable housing.

Expressions of interest for State Facilitated Development proposals are currently open, expressions of interest close on 14 May 2024.  

Following declaration by the Minister, SFD applications can be assessed by the new team within a minimum of 75 business days.

Property Council has provided significant input to the criteria of housing within a SFD through extensive consultation and outlines that to achieve its intent- that is to boost more supply faster, the criteria must not be overly prescriptive.

The new legislation also allows the Minister to condition social and affordable housing on development applications.

Importantly the new legislation also supports the delivery of critical infrastructure by empowering the Minister to acquire land or create easement where shared infrastructure (like water, power, and roads) needs to pass through multiple land parcels. 

The final Bill does not include the proposed Urban Investigation Zone (UIZ), which the Property Council was concerned would pause delivery of housing.

Public consultation on the Planning Regulation and the proposed amended instruments is also currently open and will close on 21 May 2024.