The CLP is set to scrap Labor’s ‘ambitious’ 11,427 housing target
With failure imminent, the CLP Government is set to scrap an ‘ambitious’ Labor Party policy. Read what it is.
Northern Territory
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The Territory Government is preparing to ditch the Labor Party’s “ambitious” housing targets for a more realistic option.
In response to the Commonwealth Government’s housing accord plan to build 1.2 million homes nationally, the previous Labor administration set a target to build 11,427 new homes across the Territory by 2029.
But recent Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showed the Territory is falling well short of its own target, with just 122 new homes built in the September quarter, 78.6 per cent less than the 571 required to meet the Commonwealth’s accord.
This week Property Council NT‘s Ruth Palmer and Housing Industry Association’s Luis Espinoza questioned the Territory’s slow residential construction rollout.
Mr Espinoza pointed to low apprenticeship uptake and shortage of construction workers and Ms Palmer called for urgent action to address the “growing housing crisis in the region”.
In response, the Territory Government is preparing to cut the number of homes it builds by 2029, although a revised target has not been set.
“This agreement for 11,500 new homes by 2029 was a deal signed by the former Labor Government, which set ambitious targets to release land and support the construction of new dwellings, including social and affordable housing,” Treasurer Bill Yan said.
“Historically over the past four years, housing approvals in the NT have averaged around 822 houses per year; well below the 10-year average of around 1020.
“Our HomeGrown Territory grants program is the most generous in the country and we continue to see very strong interest.
“To date, we’ve received 378 applications and paid over $2.28 million in grants.
“We expect to see these positive statistics reflected in future data over the next six months.”
Meanwhile, a Commonwealth government announcement to spend $7m funding infrastructure as a foundation stone for 730 new homes in Katherine East has been welcomed locally.
Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King on Thursday announced the funding as part of a $24m regional infrastructure package for the Territory.
Civil Contractors Federation NT chief executive Tom Harris welcomed the new spending.
“This announcement demonstrates the Federal Government is recognising, recent data that shows the link from this enabling infrastructure investment to housing delivery,” he said. “Recent data reveals a concerning trend in housing investment and supply. Investment in electricity, roads, water, sewerage and subdivision enabling infrastructure has crashed from $1.754bn in the 12 months to September 2021 to $879.7m in the same period in
2024 - representing a 59 per cent drop in investment.
“At the same time, housing commencements have fallen sharply in the Territory from 905 new homes in the year to September 2021 to 385 in the same period for 2024, representing an almost 57 per cent decline.”
With about 3900 rateable homes in Katherine, 730 new dwellings would represent an almost 20 per cent increase in available housing stock.
“The whole Katherine East development is out of the flood zone. This whole development came about in the first place to make sure that we were getting people out of the flood zone and making sure there were houses available,” Ms King said.
“The money will go to the Northern Territory Government, and it is up to them to deliver it, and I hope they do that as quickly as possible. This has already had planning approval for development and it will then be up to the private sector and council to work through the actual building of homes.”
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Originally published as The CLP is set to scrap Labor’s ‘ambitious’ 11,427 housing target
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