The federal government has announced a series of initiatives aimed at addressing the nation’s housing challenges, focusing on accelerating construction and improving affordability for first-time buyers.
A key part of this strategy is a $54 million investment in advanced manufacturing for prefabricated and modular housing.
Prefabricated homes can be built up to 50% faster than traditional construction methods, which the government says will help increase supply and ease housing shortages.
Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic said the investment would help fast-track home construction while ensuring quality standards.
“We’re backing Aussie manufacturers to build more quality houses, faster,” Mr. Husic said.
“Making a house in a factory instead of onsite can cut construction time in half.”
States and territories will be eligible for funding to support prefabrication and modular housing programs.
An additional $4.7 million will go toward developing a voluntary national certification process for offsite construction to streamline approvals while maintaining high building standards.
In addition to boosting supply, the government is expanding the Help to Buy scheme to assist first-time homebuyers.
Under the changes, income caps have increased to $100,000 for individuals and $160,000 for joint applicants and single parents.
The government is also adjusting price caps to align with the average property values in each state and territory.
Property price caps for Brisbane will be set at $1,000,000.
Minister for Housing Clare O’Neil said the expansion would provide greater opportunities for working Australians to enter the housing market.
“I’ve got a pretty straightforward goal here – to make sure that ordinary, working-class Australians can buy a home of their own,” she said.
“That’s why we’re expanding Help to Buy so that most first home buyers are eligible.”
The Help to Buy program enables eligible Australians to purchase a home with a lower deposit and a smaller mortgage, with the Commonwealth contributing up to 40% of the purchase price through a shared equity loan.
The government has increased its investment in the program by $800 million, bringing total funding to $6.3 billion.
These measures build on other recent government housing initiatives, including a two-year ban on foreign buyers purchasing existing homes from 1 April, 2025.
The $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund is also rolling out its first two rounds, which aim to deliver around 18,000 social and affordable homes.
Additionally, the government is investing $1 billion in crisis and transitional accommodation and $6.2 million over three years to support leading homelessness organisations.
In Logan, where housing affordability remains a key issue, these initiatives are particularly relevant.
According to the Real Estate Institute of Queensland, the median house price in the area has increased by 15.14% over the past year to $730,000, while the median unit price has surged by 28.19% to $450,000.
Ms. O’Neil said the government remains committed to increasing housing supply to ease pressures on renters and buyers.
“We’re tackling the housing crisis head on by building more homes, using new technologies, and making it easier for Australians to buy them,” she said.
“This budget lifts our commitments in housing to $33 billion, and there’s more to come.”
