Qld built fewer new homes in past year than at almost any time in past decade, says ABS

The state’s Housing Minister insists the government is working to increase the delivery of new dwellings and hit new-home targets.

Queensland has built fewer new homes in the past year than at almost any time in the past decade, with new data revealing the state was falling well short of its housing target.

Figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on the number of new builds completed show the Sunshine State added 32,411 new dwellings from September 2022 to September 2023, compared with 34,639 in the corresponding period – a fall of about 6 per cent.

That figure fell far short of the 49,000 new homes Queensland would need to build every year to fulfil the state’s share of the 1.2 million new Australian homes by 2029 – a target the federal and state governments committed to at last August’s national cabinet.

State Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon insists the government is taking measures to increase the delivery of new homes. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Over the past decade, an average of 37,500 new homes have been built in Queensland each year – peaking in 2016-2017, when more than 47,000 new homes were built.

But Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon insisted the government was taking measures to increase the delivery of new homes – and hit the new-home targets.

“We’re offering free TAFE and apprenticeships to grow our own construction workforce,” she said.

“Our SEQ regional plan will help to deliver almost 900,000 new homes where they’re needed in well-located areas.

“We’ve introduced a Bill to reduce even more red tape, unlock land and allow new pathways for housing developments.”

Housing Industry Australia senior economist Tom Devitt.

Housing Industry Australia senior economist Tom Devitt said the ABS data also revealed the amount of construction commencement in the September 2023 quarter was Australia’s weakest in more than a decade.

“This lack of new work entering the construction pipeline is expected to produce a trough in new-house commencements in 2024, when Australia will start construction on just 95,400 new houses, the weakest year in over a decade,” he said.

Mr Devitt said it was essential all levels of government were playing their part in boosting the amount of new homes.

Queensland has built fewer new homes in the past year than at almost any time in the last decade. Picture: iStock

“Holding all levels of government to account for improving planning regimes, reducing red tape, and supporting the development of appropriate infrastructure and a skilled construction workforce must be a priority this year,” he said.

LNP Deputy Leader Jarrod Bleijie said it was clear Queensland needed more new homes, “not less, to ease the housing crisis”.

“It is unfathomable the number of new homes has fallen by a fifth under Labor and Queensland had the biggest falls in the last year alone,” he said.

“Amidst the chaos and crisis, Labor has not only miserably failed their own target, it’s clear they simply have no plan to deliver the new homes we need.”

Premier Steven Miles blamed the slow creation of new homes on the constraints in the construction sector coupled with the state’s soaring population after new data revealed Queensland was falling well short of its housing target.

The Premier also called on councils to boost the supply of new homes by unlocking land, insisting the government is doing all it can despite new builds falling 6 per cent last year.

“Ultimately, the capacity of the construction sector is what we’re struggling with here,” Mr Miles said.

“We have more people moving to the state than the construction sector can build homes for.

“That is pushing up rent and house prices and, sadly, pushing some of the most disadvantaged out of housing and requiring additional support through social, public and crisis housing.

“We are working with the tools that we have, including the planning system, but ultimately approvals and land releases rest with local governments.

“So working with them is absolutely critical.”