In The Australian’s Inquirer (5 April 2025), Tom Dusevic quoted Hugh at length on the structural pressures driving Australia’s housing shortage: stalled projects, regulatory overreach, and an industry struggling with low productivity.
“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 post-pandemic shift to remote work that triggered the formation of more than 120,000 additional households — unexpected demand pressure, despite net migration volatility. Demand-side tweaks will not solve sustained underbuilding. Every policy tool has to be used, and every level of government engaged.
Originally published in The Australian, 5–6 April 2025.
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