Attendees at the Housing Industry Association’s annual Building Better Cities Summit have heard first hand from local and international speakers about the challenges facing Australia in housing the population over the coming decades.
HIA Chief Executive of Industry Policy and Media, Mr Wolfe, said the summit highlighted the risk of adverse social consequences if the demands to adequately supply affordable housing for Australia's growing population were not met.
"Australia needs to build another 1.3 million homes by 2020 to meet current population projections, however, at the current rate of building we will we fall 150,000 homes short," said Mr Wolfe.
"Failure at all levels of government over a number of years to address the fundamental constraints to housing supply has seen residential construction experiencing its longest trend decline in post war history."
"However, there are policy solutions. Greater competition in the finance sector and a close look at unlocking superannuation for housing are just two examples that were canvassed at the Summit."
Keynote speaker, the Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey, gave an overview of the Coalition's approach to housing and the broader economy, including floating the proposal for a federal government to provide incentives to state governments that meet housing targets.
"The housing industry would welcome a debate on federal-state incentives aimed at achieving housing supply targets," said Mr Wolfe.
"Today was a very important step in recognising the problems facing housing in Australia."
"The challenge now for governments, the industry and the community is to build on what we have heard and implement policies in response," concluded Mr Wolfe.
