Australia

Australia Election Issue: Housing

MAR 26 2025·Updated APR 28 2025

Context

Above: Volunteers roll up rows of 6,000 origami houses, placed on the steps of the Parliament house of Victoria by the Victorian Homeless Network, symbolizing 10% of the social homes that are needed in the state to end homelessness. Image credit: Alex Zucco/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

The Facts

Overview: Australia's housing sector has faced a crisis since 2024, with 76% of citizens dissatisfied with housing availability, the second-highest global dissatisfaction rate. The average house price-to-income ratio has nearly doubled since 2002 to nine times, while rent has more than doubled. Homelessness is widespread, with the 2021 census recording over 120,000 homeless people — 50 per 10,000. Treasury officials first referenced concerns of a property bubble in 2010, but the crisis has since become a defining issue in national discourse.
Australian
Gallup.com
CEDA
Current State: While only 22% of Australians are satisfied with current housing availability, forecasts predict an 11% decline in new dwelling production in 2025. The country faces a 400,000 dwelling shortage in capital cities through 2029, with 223,959 households on social housing waiting lists. First-home buyers are particularly affected by housing pressures, with the average first-time buyer age recently rising from 25 to 35 as rising construction costs and labor shortages hamper efforts to address the crisis.
Gallup.com
Missionaustralia
UDIA National
Housing as an Election Issue: Housing is shaping as a decisive issue for voters, with YouGov polling of 40,000 showing cost-of-living and home ownership fears dominating concerns. Prof. Nicole Gurran of the Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning warns that the crisis "impacts almost every sector of Australian society," urging real reform over "simple slogans." In western Sydney, for instance, soaring rents and mortgage stress are reportedly driving calls for change, as voters weigh which party can revive home ownership.
Reuters
The University of Sydney
Labor Party Pledges: Labor’s main housing policy involves the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund, aiming to provide 30,000 affordable homes over five years. This includes 20,000 social housing units, with 4,000 reserved for women escaping domestic violence and older women at risk of homelessness. An additional 10,000 affordable rentals are planned for frontline workers. The Fund is designed to establish long-term financing for social and affordable housing, supporting sustained investment across future governments.
ALP
Coalition Party Pledges: The Liberal National Coalition proposes to support the construction of 500,000 new homes by funding infrastructure such as water, power, and sewerage at development sites. Their measures include permitting first-home buyers to access superannuation savings for deposits, introducing a two-year ban on foreign purchases of existing homes, adjusting migration levels, and reinstating the Australian Building and Construction Commission to address construction costs. The approach focuses on market-based strategies to improve housing affordability.
Liberal Party of Australia

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The Spin

Australian Labor Party narrative

The Albanese Labor Government is taking decisive action to solve Australia’s housing crisis. With record investments in social and affordable housing, a $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund, and bold initiatives like the Social Housing Accelerator and Help to Buy, Labor is ensuring more Australians can afford a safe, secure home.

Minister

ALP

Liberal/National Coalition narrative

The Coalition has a bold plan to fix Australia’s housing crisis. By reducing migration, cutting red tape, and investing $5 billion in essential infrastructure, it will unlock 500,000 new homes. Freezing housing taxes and construction code changes will restore affordability, ensuring home ownership remains an achievable dream for Australians.

Liberal Party of Australia

Australian