Overview
- Australian housing construction productivity has halved since 1995, with fewer homes built per hour worked, according to the Productivity Commission.
- The report identifies slow approval processes, lack of innovation, a fragmented industry, and workforce challenges as key barriers to efficiency.
- Construction costs have risen by 40% in the past five years, while residential build times have increased by 80% over 15 years.
- Federal and state governments are falling short of their goal to build 1.2 million homes in five years, with only 176,000 homes completed in the past year.
- The commission recommends streamlining regulations, fostering innovation, and improving coordination across government levels to address the housing crisis.