The Malinauskas Labor Government has officially delivered the first significant net increase to South Australia's public housing stock in a generation, according to data released overnight.
The Report On Government Services 2026 shows 158 additional public homes were delivered in 2024-25 - the first time a material increase has been recorded this century.
The report reflects the biggest investment in public housing in decades, with 868 new homes now built and complete by the SA Housing Trust, with a further 225 homes under construction but due to be completed by March.
These homes being completed will mean that a key and ambitious election commitment to build 1,090 new public homes in this term of government has been achieved.
This growth builds on the completed Public Housing Improvement Program, which returned 350 previously vacant homes to service for families in need and upgraded amenities in more than 3,000 tenanted public housing properties.
Recording an increase in public housing stock comes as the State Government undertakes several urban renewal projects that result in a temporary reduction in public housing whilst old homes are being demolished, land is subdivided and new homes are built to replace ageing stock.
This is the case in Seaton, where the Malinauskas Government is undertaking a 1 for 1 replacement of older housing stock with safe, modern homes that better meet the needs of current and future tenants
The report also showed:
- South Australia is the best performing mainland state in the provision of social housing, with 550 dwellings per 10,000 residential dwellings, compared to the national average of 380 per 10,000 residential dwellings.
- South Australia is lower than the national average for median time waited for newly allocated households in public housing (six months compared with nine months)
- South Australia has the lowest proportion of overcrowded households in public housing in Australia
- South Australia sits above the national average in prioritising allocating public homes to those in the greatest need
As put by Nick Champion
The Malinauskas Labor Government stopped the mass sell-off of public homes and brought back the Housing Trust.
Now, after a busy four years of building homes for South Australians, an independent report has confirmed that our ambition to record a net increase in our public housing stock has been achieved.
We are delivering more homes to the South Australians who need them most.
It is testament to our government's investments in public housing and to the hard-working SA Housing Trust staff.
We will build on this incredible momentum and continue to ensure that access to housing is central to a fair and inclusive society
