ABS Building Approvals data released today show 387 homes were approved in the ACT in June, bringing the total number of homes approved since the start of the Accord to 6,871.
Property Council ACT & Capital Region Executive Director Ashlee Berry said the data shows the ACT has made progress, but not yet at the sustained pace required.
"After two years of the National Housing Accord, the ACT now has three years left to build the pipeline needed to meet its housing target," Ms Berry said.
"With 6,871 homes approved since the Accord began, the Territory now needs to approve at least 392 homes every month for the next three years to stay on track.
"That means we need a stronger and more consistent pipeline of approvals moving into construction and ultimately into completed homes."
Ms Berry said the June approvals data should be considered alongside recent ABS Building Activity figures, which showed the ACT completed 4,243 homes and commenced 4,946 homes over the 12 months to March 2026.
"There have been encouraging signs in the ACT, including a lift in commencements and completions in the March quarter," Ms Berry said.
"But the challenge now is sustaining that momentum. One good quarter will not be enough to meet the scale of housing demand across Canberra."
Ms Berry said the ACT Government's recent housing reforms were welcome, including stamp duty changes, missing middle planning reforms and changes to the Lease Variation Charge, but the focus must remain on whether those reforms improve feasibility on the ground.
"The ACT Government has taken some important steps, and industry welcomes the reform momentum," Ms Berry said.
"But approvals will only lift if projects are feasible. Construction costs, taxes, charges, finance conditions and regulatory requirements all influence whether homes get built.
"Planning reform matters, but it must be matched by the economic settings that allow projects to proceed."
Ms Berry said the final three years of the Accord must be used to ensure every policy lever is pulling in the same direction.
"The ACT cannot afford to have reforms working against each other," Ms Berry said.
"We need to do everything possible to lift approvals, improve feasibility and convert more projects into homes.
"If the Territory is serious about meeting its housing target, the priority now is a stronger pipeline, faster delivery and a continued focus on the costs that determine whether projects get out of the ground."
