HIA urge re-elected government to prioritise housing

A peak building industry advocate has been quick to remind the re-elected Albanese Government to keep up the momentum around housing shortages, and the rental roller coaster, that occurred during the runup to the election.

The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has called on the government to make housing a first-order priority from day one, any delay or political grandstanding will only deepen the nation’s housing crisis.

HIA managing director Jocelyn Martin said that while the HIA congratulated Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the ALP for securing another term of government, it looked forward to constructively working with them in the new parliament to help resolve this ongoing housing crisis.

“Access to a home, whether to rent or own, is becoming unattainable for too many Australians.

“This is a challenge that demands a major response in the first days and weeks of the new term of government.”

The HIA has made it clear throughout the election campaign that all sides of politics must provide bold and courageous leadership to deliver on the nations critical housing shortages and meet the National Housing Accord target of 1.2 million new homes.

“The industry has laid out the plan, through HIA’s Let’s Build agenda, to fast-track planning, unlock land, invest in infrastructure, and build the skilled workforce needed to deliver the homes Australia needs,” Ms Martin said.

“Too often, we see housing policy used as a platform to showboat rather than solve real problems.

“Australians want practical and meaningful reform and holding housing legislation hostage to political theatre only pushes the dream of home ownership further out of reach.”

Ms Martin also pushed back against any suggestion that the housing crisis lies outside the federal government’s remit.

“We’ve heard it too often that housing and planning is a state issue, or that the Commonwealth has limited levers to pull, that excuse simply doesn’t stack up any more,” she said.

“The federal government has the influence, the resources and the leadership role to bring all levels of government together.

“It can drive the co-ordinated policy, funding and reform needed to move the dial on supply and affordability, not just tinker at the edges.

The industry advocate said that this was reinforced in the election result with voters outlining housing as a key issue to be addressed as a matter of priority.

The HIA urge the new government and the entire parliament to work together to implement the solutions already on the table.

“Housing Australians must not become a casualty of politics-as-usual, we can’t afford more years of delay and stalling of key policies being implemented, we need action within weeks not years,” Ms Martin said.