The Property Council of Australia today said the kick-off of the $500 million Housing Support program is a welcome step to help state and territory governments boost housing supply and should be doubled.
Property Council Chief Executive Mike Zorbas said doubling the funds available in the program will better support the government’s 1.2 million new homes goal.
“We have to do everything we can to reach the national housing goal. We simply cannot afford another swing and a miss,” Mr Zorbas said.
“We need to disrupt decades of undersupply by providing incentives that no state or local political leader can walk past.
“We know unresponsive planning systems across the country are the biggest barrier to housing supply and affordability, so any initiative to streamline these processes is welcome.
“As the Commonwealth Productivity Commission concluded in 2022, ‘More supply – in any segment of the market – can improve affordability for low-income households’.
“The Housing Support Program will help kick-start housing, so let’s boost this terrific initiative to help states unlock more homes,” he said.
