The total number of dwellings approved fell 9.5 per cent in December (seasonally adjusted), after a 0.3 per cent rise in November, according to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Daniel Rossi, ABS head of construction statistics, said: “Approvals for private sector dwellings excluding houses drove the December decline, falling 25.3 per cent. In 2023, there were 59,174 private other dwellings approved, compared to 73,041 in 2022. This reflects a 19.0 per cent annual fall.
“Approvals in less volatile, private sector houses, fell 0.5 per cent in December.”
Total dwelling approvals fell in Victoria (-18.4 per cent), South Australia (-11.8 per cent), and Tasmania (-2.7 per cent). Meanwhile, Queensland (8.2 per cent), Western Australia (7.9 per cent), and New South Wales (2.0 per cent) rose.
Approvals for private sector houses were driven lower by South Australia (-5.3 per cent), New South Wales (-2.6 per cent), and Queensland (-0.4 per cent), while rises were seen in Western Australia (2.2 per cent) and Victoria (1.2 per cent) in December.
The value of total building approved fell 6.4 per cent, following a 10.4 per cent drop in November. The value of total residential building fell 3.7 per cent, with a 3.8 per cent decrease in new residential building and a 2.8 per cent fall in alterations and additions.
The value of non-residential building fell 10.6 per cent, after a 19.8 per cent fall in November.
