Multi-billion-dollar investment to build more homes for Australians (2024)

The Albanese Labor Government will make significant new housing investments in next week’s Budget to help deliver our comprehensive Homes for Australia plan.

The Prime Minister convened National Cabinet on Friday, where Premiers and Chief Ministers backed the following new measures in the Budget to help Australians build, rent and buy:

  • $1billion directed towards crisis and transitional accommodation for women and children fleeing domestic violence, and youth under the National Housing Infrastructure Facility. This includes increasing the proportion of grants for this investment from $175million to $700million in the Budget to be able to support crisis and transitional housing.
  • $1billion to get homes built sooner – funding for states and territories to build the roads, sewers, energy, water and community infrastructure that we need for new homes and for additional social housing supply.
  • A new $9.3billion 5‑year National Agreement on Social Housing and Homelessness – for states and territories to combat homelessness, provide crisis support and build and repair social housing. This includes a doubling of Commonwealth homelessness funding to $400million every year, matched by states and territories.

This significant new investment builds on the more than $25billion in new housing investments our Government is delivering over the next decade, including:

  • $10billion Housing Australia Future Fund to build 30,000 social and affordable rental homes.
  • $2billion Social Housing Accelerator to deliver around 4,000 new social homes across Australia.
  • $3billion New Homes Bonus to incentivise states and territories to build more homes.
  • $5.5billion Help to Buy scheme to help more Australians buy their own home.
  • $2.7billion to increase Commonwealth Rent Assistance by 15percent.
  • $2billion in financing for more social and affordable rental homes.

We need to build more homes, more quickly, in more parts of the country.

Which is why the Albanese Government has an ambitious goal of building 1.2million homes by the end of the decade.

We know this is a challenge, but it’s a challenge we have to meet.

We need more tradies and construction workers. That’s why earlier this week the Government announced $90.6million to boost the number of construction workers, including 20,000 new fee free places.

We also need to reduce pressure on the private rental market.

That’s why the Government is today announcing we will work with the higher education sector on new regulation to require universities to increase their supply of student accommodation for domestic and international students.

Homes for Australia is our Government’s plan to help keep the great Australian dream in reach.

Quotes attributable to Prime Minister, AnthonyAlbanese MP:

“This Budget will provide an additional $1billion for social and emergency housing to support women and children escaping domestic violence and will ensure a new fiveyear funding agreement with states and territories for housing and homelessness.

“We are encouraging states and territories to kick‑start building by providing an extra $1billion to help fund the roads and services new homes need, and for new social housing.

“This Budget means more tradies, fewer barriers to construction, less talk and more homes.

“This isn’t about one suburb or one city or one state. It’s a challenge facing Australians everywhere and it needs action from every level of government.”

Quotes attributable to Treasurer, JimChalmers MP:

“Housing is a big priority for the Albanese Government and it will be a big focus of the Budget.

“Australia needs to build more homes more quickly and that’s what this substantial investment will help to deliver.

“We’re delivering billions more dollars in the Budget to build more homes across the country because we know that to address this housing challenge, we need to boost supply.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Housing, JulieCollins MP:

“Building more homes is the best way to address Australia’s housing challenges, and this is exactly what Homes for Australia will deliver.

“Homes for Australia will turbocharge the construction of new homes right across the country and ease the pressure on Australians doing it tough.

“We’re working across government, and with other tiers of government, to achieve the ambitious national target of 1.2million new homes by the end of the decade.

“This will deliver more homes for home buyers, more homes for renters and more homes for Australians who need them.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education, JasonClare MP:

“Our international education sector is incredibly important to our country.

“We need to ensure its ongoing sustainability and part of that means we need more purpose‑built student accommodation.

“We need more purpose‑built housing to support students in higher education and that’s what these reforms, developed in consultation with the sector, will help to drive.”

Multi-billion-dollar investment to build more homes for Australians (2024)

FAQs

Is there enough housing for everyone in Australia? ›

Australia's housing system has been unable to build enough new housing stock to keep up with the needs of our population,” Treasury said. “This has caused a growing supply deficit, resulting in worsening affordability for both renters and first-home buyers.

What is the Australian housing crisis? ›

Australia's housing supply is low by international standards

The government has pointed out that Australia has fewer dwellings per 1,000 people than the OECD average. According to the OECD, Australia's level of housing supply was 420 per 1,000 people in 2022.

What has caused the housing crisis? ›

One of the leading causes of California's housing crisis is the mismatch between the state's supply and demand for housing. Housing development must catch up to population growth caused by migration and natural increase.

Why are Australian houses so expensive? ›

Some factors that may have contributed to the increase in property prices include: greater availability of credit due to financial deregulation. low interest rates since 2008, increasing borrowing capacity to borrow due to lower repayments. limited government release of new land (reducing supply).

How many houses in Australia are empty? ›

When the Australian Bureau of Statistics released the latest census data in 2022 showing there were 1,043,776 unoccupied homes on census night, some media outlets and commentators were quick to say that housing could be put to immediate, better use amid the ongoing housing crisis.

Why is it so hard to rent a house in Australia? ›

More domestic and international migration

One major factor contributing to the rental crisis is the increasing population in Australia's major cities. As more people move to urban areas, demand for housing has skyrocketed, causing prices to rise.

Is California building enough housing? ›

Meanwhile, California is not on track to reach its 2022 goal of building 2.5 million units by 2030. In recent years, we've permitted only an average of around 110,000 units annually.

Who was to blame for the housing crisis? ›

The Biggest Culprit: The Lenders

Most of the blame is on the mortgage originators or the lenders. That's because they were responsible for creating these problems. After all, the lenders were the ones who advanced loans to people with poor credit and a high risk of default.

Is there a housing shortage in the US? ›

Finding an affordable place to live in the U.S. can feel pretty impossible whether you're a renter or a buyer. To begin with, there's a massive shortage of homes — somewhere between 4 and 7 million. And those who are able to find homes are spending a much bigger chunk of their paycheck than in recent years.

Are houses cheaper in Australia than USA? ›

The Demographia International Housing Affordability report is a widely respected annual survey of residential property across eight countries.

What is the average house cost in Australia? ›

Average House Prices in Australia. According to the latest report by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the average house price in Australia is $933,800. This is a significant increase compared to last year (December 2022), when median prices were $881,200.

Why is it so hard to buy a house in Australia? ›

One of the biggest barriers to becoming a first-time homebuyer in Australia is the cost of housing. The skyrocketing cost of housing, particularly in major cities like Sydney and Melbourne, has made it difficult for many people to get into the housing market.

Is it difficult to find housing in Australia? ›

The report found that housing affordability “deteriorated significantly for mortgage holders” due to interest rate rises. Rents were up 35% since 2020 and 8% in 2023, with a vacancy rate of 1.6% making it increasingly difficult to find a rental home. “Current market supply of new housing is low,” it said.

Is most of Australia unlivable? ›

Statement one says 95% of the nation is uninhabited, at least not by any significant population, and that's true. An estimated 40% of Australia is considered uninhabitable. That's because it's the second driest continent. 80% of Australians live in an area the size of England.

Do most people own or rent in Australia? ›

Overall household home ownership rates in Australia (including dwellings with a mortgage and those owned outright) have hovered around 70 per cent since 1961.

Is there a lot of homelessness in Australia? ›

On ABS Census night in 2021, more than 122,000 people were estimated to be experiencing homelessness in Australia – 56% were male, 21% were aged 25–34 and 20% were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (First Nations) people (ABS 2023).

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Reed Wilderman

Last Updated:

Views: 5489

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (52 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Reed Wilderman

Birthday: 1992-06-14

Address: 998 Estell Village, Lake Oscarberg, SD 48713-6877

Phone: +21813267449721

Job: Technology Engineer

Hobby: Swimming, Do it yourself, Beekeeping, Lapidary, Cosplaying, Hiking, Graffiti

Introduction: My name is Reed Wilderman, I am a faithful, bright, lucky, adventurous, lively, rich, vast person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.