Master Builders backs council planning regulation reform

MASTER BUILDERS has backed part of the Housing Industry Association's report arguing against changes to negative gearing.

Master Builders supports calls to reform council planning regulations. Picture: Claudia Baxter

THE builders lobby group has welcomed a draft report on plans for competition reforms, saying it shows local planning schemes were a key barrier to housing supply.

A day after the Housing Industry Association released a report arguing against changes to negative gearing; Master Builders Australia has backed part of their call to instead focus on local council regulations.

MBA chief executive Wilhelm Harnisch said Ian Harper's competition review, released on Monday, identified the link between "less affordable housing and inefficient planning and zoning processes.

"Inefficiency at the local level is a major obstacle to affordable home ownership because it unnecessarily drives up the cost of construction and chokes the supply of new housing," he said.

"Reforms that increase housing stock would more effectively target housing affordability pressures than abolishing negative gearing."

As a Senate inquiry considers the drivers of a lack of affordable housing, Mr Harnisch said the review highlighted a need for "bold competition policy reforms" that did not focus on negative gearing.

- APN NEWSDESK

Originally published as Master Builders backs council planning regulation reform