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Construction Slowdown Threatens Australia’s 1.2 Million Home Goal

A 50% rise in average build times, combined with a backlog of thousands of approved homes, is driving calls for construction productivity reforms.

Overview

  • Cotality analysis shows about 30,000 approved dwellings have yet to start construction, highlighting a build-phase bottleneck
  • National data reveal 219,000 homes under construction with average completion timelines stretching from six to more than nine quarters
  • Post-COVID material cost surges and a 53% decline in residential construction productivity since 1995 are compounding delivery delays
  • Industry experts are urging adoption of modular construction, streamlined worker mobility and other productivity measures to accelerate home builds
  • Policymakers are exploring demand-side tax changes, including winding back negative gearing and capital gains concessions, to relieve pressure on the housing pipeline