“DELAYS,DIFFICULTIES AND DEAF EARS”: LIBS STAND WITH BUSINESSES CALLING FOR CONSTRUCTION REFORMS
Leanne Castley MLA
Leader of the ACT Liberals
Peter Cain MLA
Shadow Minister for Planning and Housing Services
Media Release
18 March 2025
The Canberra Liberals will move a motion in the ACT Legislative Assembly today calling on the ACT Government to implement various reforms to fix the ACT’s construction system.
Labor’s promise at the last election to build 30,00 extra new dwellings by 2030 is looking like nothing more than a pipedream with ABS figures showing the number of houses approved in the ACT fell by 24.5% in the last twelve months, the number of multi-unit approvals declined by 58.2% and overall, all approvals fell by 51%
The motion, to be introduced by Shadow Minister for Planning and Housing Services, Peter Cain, coincides with the Rally for Construction Reform in ACT on Tuesday morning, organised by local ACT builder, Xavier Duffy.
ACT Liberal Leader Leanne Castley MLA said today that red tape and delays caused by the ACT Labor government is resulting in less dwellings approved and constructed, forcing up construction and housing costs.
“We all know Canberrans are struggling to make ends of meet thanks to the soaring cost of living under Labor,” Ms Castley said.
“Yet, ACT Labor seems think it’s someone else’s fault. They simply don’t get that we need to get the local construction industry moving.
“It’s easy to make election promises that you can’t deliver but what about Canberrans who are struggling with housing costs.”
The Shadow Minister for Planning and Housing Services, Peter Cain said this motion reflects the calls of the Rally for Construction Reform in ACT, in appealing to business owners and construction workers who are fed up with the delays, difficulties and deaf ears of the ACT Labor government.
“The number of building approvals in the ACT halved between 2023 and 2024, yet there are currently around 600 development applications awaiting decisions.
“The current regulatory scheme burdens builders and public servants alike, with excessive and unsustainable workloads for planning officials and building certifiers leading to inefficiencies, delayed approvals and cost overruns.
“Builders are crying out for reform to streamline approval processes for things like building certifications, tree protections and pool fencing, yet are not being appropriately engaged by the ACT Labor government.
“The Canberra Liberals will always stand with Canberra’s building and construction businesses and workers,” Mr Cain concluded.
