The Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) Victoria has called on the newly appointed Carroll Ministry to use the remainder of its term to reset the state’s housing agenda, warning that Victoria cannot meet its housing targets without restoring confidence and investment in the private sector.

UDIA Victoria Chief Executive Officer Linda Allison said the change in leadership presented an important opportunity to recalibrate the Victorian Government’s approach to housing delivery after several years in which policy settings had failed to unlock the level of new housing the state urgently requires.

“The new Carroll Ministry has one last opportunity this term to address key elements of the housing crisis that the Andrews and Allan governments failed to resolve,” Ms Allison said.

“The Housing Statement needs a recalibration to ensure it delivers homes that Victorians can genuinely afford, in the locations where they want to live.

“Equally important is a reset of the Housing Industry Partnership. As a signatory, UDIA Victoria wants to see a renewed commitment from the Premier and Cabinet to genuinely listen to industry, act on expert advice and work collaboratively to remove the barriers preventing new housing from being delivered,” said Ms Allison.

Victoria’s housing ambitions would only be achieved by creating the right conditions for the private sector, which delivers virtually all new housing across the state.

“If the Government is serious about solving the housing crisis, it must enable the sector that already delivers almost every new home.

“Around 99 per cent of new housing in Victoria is delivered by the private sector. That means planning reform, investment certainty and restoring project feasibility are not optional—they are fundamental to increasing housing supply, said Ms Allison.”

While UDIA Victoria welcomed Premier Ben Carroll’s commitment to work more closely with industry and review government spending, the focus must now shift from announcements to implementation.

“We welcome the new Premier’s commitment to partner with industry and undertake a review of government spending. However, housing is now at a critical juncture, and the new Cabinet must move quickly to tackle the structural issues that continue to undermine new housing delivery,” said Ms Allison.

UDIA Victoria is calling on the Government to prioritise practical reforms that restore investor confidence and improve housing feasibility, including making more development-ready land available, reforming Victoria’s property tax settings and accelerating enabling infrastructure in high-growth communities.

“To build more homes in Victoria, the Carroll Government must reposition Victoria as an attractive destination for investment in housing.

“That starts with bringing more land to market, removing state-specific property taxes that undermine project viability—beginning with the Windfall Gains Tax, and prioritising infrastructure investment in the outer suburbs and regional communities where population growth is strongest.

“Without viable projects, there will be no increase in housing supply, regardless of how ambitious government housing targets may be,” said Ms Allison

Ms Allison said the urban development industry stood ready to work constructively with the new Ministry to help deliver practical reforms that would increase housing supply and improve affordability.

As an apolitical peak body representing Victoria’s urban development industry, UDIA Victoria looks forward to briefing new Cabinet members to provide practical, evidence-based advice on how Victoria can better meet its housing targets.

-ENDS-

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