Housing approvals drop 30% – ACT Budget must back delivery
With new ABS data showing building approvals fell 29.9 per cent in April, the Property Council of Australia is calling on the ACT Government to make housing the focus as it prepares to hand down its 2026 Budget next week.
Property Council ACT & Capital Region Executive Director Ashlee Berry said the Budget was a make or break for housing delivery in the Territory.
"Monthly approvals can be volatile, but what matters is whether we are building a reliable pipeline and turning approvals into completed homes," Ms Berry said.
"The more concerning signal is that apartment approvals are not recovering, despite playing a critical role in the ACT's housing mix.
"Apartment approvals are not reaching historic levels, pointing to a weaker pipeline of supply unless conditions improve.
"At the same time, approvals for townhouses and terraces – the missing middle for which we've been advocating consistently – have been trending down, further narrowing the options for Canberrans.
"With the missing middle reforms now moving through the Assembly, we need to see that part of the market rebound in the coming months.
"Settings such as the definition of off‑the‑plan purchases and the limited availability of stamp duty concessions on completed apartments are stifling demand, in turn affecting project feasibility.
"If those settings remain unchanged, it will be very difficult to lift apartment supply or get more projects moving into construction," Ms Berry said.
Ms Berry said the Territory is entering a critical phase, where planning reforms and housing targets must now translate into projects on the ground.
"The ACT has made important progress on planning reform, but the test now is whether that translates into certainty, speed and delivery," she said.
"With the ACT Budget next week, there is a clear opportunity to back that progress with the settings needed to unlock housing supply."
Ms Berry said the Property Council's Pre‑Budget Submission sets out practical measures to support delivery, including clearer and more consistent planning settings, better coordination across infrastructure and utilities, and policies that reduce cost pressures on new housing.
"Planning reform on its own is not enough – it needs to be matched by Budget settings that support feasibility and investment – that means making sure planning, infrastructure, and servicing are aligned, and that projects can move efficiently from approval to construction," Ms Berry said.
