The Coalition is pledging to shake up the sluggish process of environmental approvals for housing projects, promising a dramatic overhaul if it wins the next federal election. Citing delays that have stalled over 100 developments across the country, the Opposition says it plans to fast-track assessments to help ease Australia’s housing crisis.
Under the proposed plan, projects that have already been in the pipeline for more than a year would have their approvals reviewed and finalised within six months. The Coalition has committed to clearing the broader backlog within the first year of taking office.
To support this push, it has outlined plans for a new independent body—Investment Australia—that would be tasked with reducing bureaucratic hurdles and expediting housing-related decisions.
This initiative ties in with the already announced $5 billion Housing Infrastructure Programme, which is expected to back the development of up to 500,000 new homes by funding essential services like roads, water, and energy.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton criticised the current government’s pace, accusing Labor of letting delays push up the cost of housing and block much-needed supply. He said every arm of government would be expected to contribute to the solution, not the problem.
Backers of the plan include the Urban Development Institute of Australia, whose figures show that over a third of zoned and future residential land remains locked up, with nearly 70% of the project pipeline stalled by environmental approval issues.
UDIA President Col Dutton called the current process a major barrier to new housing starts and stressed the need for a more coordinated national approach. While emphasising the importance of environmental protection, he said reforming the system was critical to boosting supply and keeping homes within financial reach for ordinary Australians.
