REZONING more land and setting up a national fund to help build more homes is being proposed by a peak business lobby to address the housing crisis, in a rare alliance with unions.
Tackling labour and materials shortages is among measures proposed by the Business Council of Australia to help the Federal Government meet its housing targets.
Urgent action was needed from all levels of government to fix Australia’s housing crisis, council chief executive Bran Black said.
“We want the Federal Government to create a new national reform fund, like the one created in the 1990s, that incentivises states to fix regulation and planning bottlenecks that hold back homes being built,” he said while launching the group’s housing report.
Skilled migration and trained workers were needed to address shortages in the industry, Mr Black said.
Unions NSW and Business NSW have teamed up to back a proposal to establish housing on unused Crown land, to allow essential workers to access affordable homes without the burden of land costs.
Sydney’s combined weekly rents have risen by almost 60% since 2020, from $519 to $829.
“This plan offers a practical pathway to long-term home security for those who form the backbone of our society,” Business NSW executive director David Harding said.
Opposition housing spokesman Michael Sukkar said the Coalition supported some parts of the plan but had reservations about other aspects.
Asked if he supported the call for more foreign workers, Mr Sukkar said: “You’ve got to reorientate the composition of who you bring in”.
“We’ve made clear we’re going to reduce migration to free up 100,000 homes for Australians,” he told ABC radio last week.
One way to boost tradies would be to harmonise licensing and accreditation across states and territories, he said, so those registered in one state could work in others.
The business council’s wishlist of 29 recommendations comes after the opposition unveiled a $5 billion plan to build enabling infrastructure – such as water and sewerage – to get projects moving, as it takes the fight to Labor over housing policy before the next federal election.
It has pledged to cut building red tape under its plan in a move welcomed by business, building and property groups.
But Labor says the Coalition’s plan is already part of its own housing policy to address a shortage of homes.
The government chastised the Opposition and Greens for stalling legislation that would set up a shared equity scheme allowing some people to enter the market.
The Greens are holding out support for the Help to Buy scheme, arguing for more social housing investment and cuts to tax concessions for property investors.
Climate Councillor and economist Nicki Hutley said almost three-quarters of Australians supported the government going big on policies to drive a new wave of solar and storage installations in a bid to drive down energy bills.
Labor ministers have again ruled out changes to concessions on negative gearing and capital gains.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher warned the Greens to work constructively with the government after they lost seats in the ACT election.
