Commonwealth, State and Territory ministers responsible for housing, homelessness, planning and building met at Parliament House for the second Joint Ministerial Meeting on Housing Supply and Affordability.
Ministers discussed current market conditions and committed to accelerating reforms to lift productivity and deliver more homes more quickly. They agreed to modernise the National Construction Code, reduce regulatory burdens and encourage the use of modern construction methods.
The ministers noted the Australian Government’s $2 billion Local Infrastructure Fund, which will help provide essential infrastructure for land ready for development. The fund is expected to unlock up to 65,000 new homes over the next decade.
Housing construction has strengthened, with dwelling completions up 15.9 per cent in the year to the June quarter of 2026 and a record 248,733 homes under construction. Building approvals in August 2026 were 10.3 per cent higher than a year earlier.
Under the Commonwealth’s target of 55,000 social and affordable housing dwellings, more than 8,000 have been completed. More than 11,000 are under construction and over 10,000 are in planning or pre-construction. Work is under way at more than 3,000 sites in every state and territory.
Ministers agreed to revisit affordable housing policies, including regulatory reform for community housing providers and the development of a common national framework. They also backed further growth in investment in social and affordable housing while retaining flexibility to respond to local markets and existing arrangements.
After the meeting, ministers joined investors, modular housing manufacturers, unions and construction companies for a roundtable on modern construction methods. The participants agreed to strengthen collaboration to encourage investment and productivity through innovative approaches to homebuilding.
