Senator the Hon Murray Watt, Minister for the Environment and Water
The Hon Clare O'Neil, Minister for Housing, Homelessness & Cities
The Albanese Government has smashed through its target to cut through the red tape and delays in environmental approvals that were holding up the construction of more homes for Australians.
An outcome of the Government's Economic Reform Roundtable in August last year, the housing strike team, established within the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, was given the target of assessing 26,000 new homes by July this year.
Since then, the Government's housing strike team has smashed that target out the park, not just meeting it, but exceeding it and paving the way for the development of more than 35,500 new homes across Australia.
All up, the strike team has given the green light to 21 metropolitan developments supporting 19,906 homes and 13 regional developments supporting 15,769 homes.
These 35,500 new homes build on the Albanese Government's other housing supply measures, including:
- Unlocking 65,000 homes through the $2 billion Local Infrastructure Fund as part of the 2025/26 Budget
- Delivering 55,000 social, affordable and crisis homes through programs like the Housing Australia Future Fund
- Delivering 100,000 new homes for First Home Buyers
- Unlocking 80,000 new long-lease rentals through Build to Rent reforms
Quotes attributable to Minister for the Environment and Water, Murray Watt:
"The Albanese Government is boosting Australia's housing pipeline while maintaining strong national environmental protections.
"Our housing strike team didn't just hit its target, it smashed it out of the park, surpassing its goal more than a month ahead of deadline. In doing so, the team has ensured that environmental impacts of these housing developments are assessed, avoided and minimised.
"And our work is not done. The assessments and approvals process is only going to get faster, simpler and more reliable from here with the rollout of our landmark national environment laws well underway.
"These reforms are backed by more than $500 million funding in the Budget to get Australia's first National Environmental Protection Agency up and running and maximise the benefits of the reforms.
"The funding will support faster housing assessments and approvals by reducing red tape, greater use of AI and the advancement of bilateral agreements and strategic assessments with states and territories to remove unnecessary duplication."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Housing, Homelessness & Cities, Clare O'Neil:
"This is really about reforming our entire housing system so it can build more homes, because that's what's ultimately going to make housing more affordable.
"This isn't just about numbers, it's about thousands of young families, regional workers, and first-home buyers who will now have a roof over their heads. Whether it's smashing through this backlog or delivering an additional 65,000 homes through the Budget, the Albanese Government is pulling every single lever to build the homes Australians urgently need.
"We're a Labor Government with a plan to build more homes for Australians and level the playing field for first homebuyers."
