In a recent Inquirer feature published by The Australian (5 April 2025), Hugh Hartigan outlined the structural pressures driving Australia’s housing shortage. Citing stalled projects, regulatory overreach, and an industry struggling with low productivity, Hugh called for full-spectrum supply-side reform.

“Policy should focus squarely on reducing construction costs and recalibrate market settings so that the private sector can deliver enough homes to meet new demand,” he said. “Over-supply should really be the goal.”

The article also highlighted a key insight: a post-pandemic shift to remote work triggered the formation of over 120,000 additional households—placing unexpected pressure on housing demand, despite net migration volatility.

Hugh argues that “every policy tool must now be used, every level of government engaged,” and that sustained underbuilding cannot be solved through demand-side tweaks alone.