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Australia cuts red tape to boost home building amid housing crisis
The Albanese government has announced a series of reforms aimed at cutting red tape and fast-tracking approvals for new homes, seeking to tackle Australia’s ongoing housing crisis.
The measures include pausing further residential changes to the National Construction Code, establishing a “strike team” within the environment department to accelerate assessments, and using artificial intelligence to simplify planning and approval processes for builders.
“For too many builders in Australia, it takes longer to get approval for a home than it does to build one,” said Housing Minister Clare O’Neil. “We want builders on site, not filling in forms to get their approval.”
The reforms are intended to streamline the assessment of more than 26,000 homes under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. The government emphasized that all environmental requirements will still be met, even for fast-tracked projects.
Other proposed reforms include encouraging superannuation investment in housing and promoting modern construction methods such as prefab homes. The Property Council of Australia welcomed the announcement, describing it as a “win” for housing supply.
Treasurer Daniel Mookhey noted that pausing new federal regulations will clarify interactions between national and state standards, giving confidence to builders. However, some experts have expressed concerns that rapid regulatory changes may affect livability and environmental protection.
Environmental groups continue to call for stronger nature protection, an independent national EPA, and better coordination between governments to ensure faster but sustainable decision-making.