Government falling short on housing: roundtable

THE Federal Government must fix housing trade shortages and do more to help first homebuyers, according to participants in a regional roundtable event in Bendigo on Tuesday.

Nationals leader David Littleproud and Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie, along with the Housing Industry Association (HIA), hosted the Regional Housing Roundtable, where it was claimed that shortages of key trades remains one of the biggest barriers to delivering the government’s 1.2 million new homes target.

“We can fix the fundamentals with common sense, but with only 177,000 new dwellings completed in 2024, the government isn’t even coming close to meeting demand,” Mr Littleproud said.

“We have heard at the roundtable that builders are facing shortages in excess of 83,000 tradies.”

Senator McKenzie, meanwhile, said the dream of home ownership now seems out of reach for young Australians.

“The Reserve Bank governor admitted at Senate Estimates that Labor’s first home policy will push up prices, making houses even less affordable for families and first homebuyers,” she said.

HIA chief executive of industry and policy Simon Croft said one-third or 8.5 million people now live outside metropolitan areas and one of the biggest issues for regional areas like Bendigo is infrastructure, more roads and water.

“Getting labour is a big constraint with supply issues and actually getting the houses built,” Mr Croft said.

Lansell Homes CEO Jeff Smith said the greater the delay in releasing land supply, the greater the risk of increasing home prices.

“We need to improve new home affordability and we need to help first homebuyers get into their first home and make it possible for them to live the Australian dream,” he said.