Housing Reform Leaders

Not all states have done enough to implement major planning reforms to help them to meet Federal Government housing targets, according to a new Housing Industry Association (HIA) scorecard.

Western Australia and South Australia are the standout performers when it comes to planning reform, according to the HIA.

It says both states are making stronger progress on housing supply, driven by large-scale rezonings and land release programs.

According to the HIA analysis in FY2025, 173,232 dwellings were built nationally which is 66,768 homes short of the annual Housing Accord target.

To try to catch up, 260,000 homes will need to be built every year for the next four years.

HIA executive director of planning and development, Sam Heckel, says the reforms implemented in Western Australia mean it is delivering more shovel-ready land.

He says planning systems are improving but still constrained in Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory, while there is uncertainty about whether the introduction of transport-oriented development rezonings in New South Wales will translate to sustained housing supply.

According to the HIA, housing delivery remains hampered by weak land supply planning in Tasmania.

It says Queensland and the Northern Territory are the poorest performers in housing reform.

“Reforming outdated planning systems is the first step in empowering the building industry to increase its output,”  Heckel says.