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Friday, September 18, 2026
The Global Living Company | BTR News Australia
HomeNew ZealandComment & AnalysisMinisterial focus on skilled visas for housing supply welcomed

Ministerial focus on skilled visas for housing supply welcomed

An announcement from the Property Council of Australia follows a meeting of the nation’s housing ministers in Sydney.

The Property Council of Australia has announced that it has welcomed the federal Housing Minister’s focus on simplifying skilled visas to help deliver new housing supply.

Chief Executive of the Property Council of Australia Mike Zorbas stated that housing supply and affordability pressures are being felt across the nation, and that more new homes to buy and to rent are sorely needed.

“We need to turbocharge the delivery of housing to reach our big welcome 1.2 million new homes target by 2029. Housing Minister O’Neil has rightly shone a light on unlocking supply of new homes direct with states as we navigate a way through the housing crisis.

“A big part of this is having extra talent and skills on tap to build these homes via a simplified visa system. We also need to provide states and local governments with the necessary funding to connect essential infrastructure like sewage, water and power to our growing communities.”

Mike Zorbas, Chief Executive, Property Council of Australia

He also warned that all Federal parties needed to find a way forward on the 105,000 new Build to Rent homes currently being held up in the Senate.

“We now need the major parties to support the Federal cross benchers who are backing improvements to Build to Rent legislation that will unlock 105,000 long-tenured rental homes by 2034.

“Addressing the housing crisis demands urgent collaboration across all levels of government, alongside industry and the profit-for-purpose sector, to tackle the structural issues holding back supply across our cities and regional centres.”

Mike Zorbas, Chief Executive, Property Council of Australia
Amy Johnson
Amy Johnson
Amy is a Digital Journalist at BTR News Australia, BTR News and PBSA News and has a BA (Hons) degree in Journalism.

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