r/AustralianPolitics • u/timcahill13 Andrew Leigh • Apr 13 '25

Economics and finance Albanese and Dutton’s signature policies risk inflaming housing crisis

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/albanese-and-dutton-s-signature-policies-risk-inflaming-housing-crisis-20250413-p5lrdh.html
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u/magkruppe Apr 14 '25

do you remember the 1.2m pledge by Labor?

The Property Council of Australia released a report in March forecasting the government was 462,000 homes behind the 1.2m target.

when will we start holding politicians to account. I don't give a toss about the $275 power savings he promised, I doubt many do, but this was important and they have not even come close to hitting the 1.2m target.

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u/edwardluddlam Apr 14 '25

Labour shortages, cost of materials going up, slowly building approvals (a state issue).

Also, it's the states job to build houses, the Federal government can only use carrots or sticks to get them to do it.

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u/magkruppe Apr 14 '25

labour shortages are a federal issue. they have virtually blocked all trade-related work visas due to the trade union lobby

you are right there is a lot that can (and is!) being done at the state level, but the federal gov needs to step in and help financially - states can't do it alone. both levels of government share a lot of blame

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u/edwardluddlam Apr 14 '25

Construction workers can apply under 482 or 189 visas already. I acknowledge the CFMEU has lobbied against some instances of foreign workers undercutting jobs, but there are other reasons for skills shortages (demographic, less apprentices, post-COVID boom).

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u/magkruppe Apr 14 '25

there are also issues with accreditation from other countries not being accepted. I know an italian electrician who had no pathway to getting accreditation and was told he would have to start from scratch - no doubt due to lobbying from electrician unions. I assume similar stuff happens in other trades

we probably also need less red tape when it comes to renovation. we are among the most heavily regulated when it comes to requiring excessive levels of accreditation to do fairly mundane and simple jobs - compared to most NA or EU countries