Catholic Social Services Australia has called on the Australian Government to commission a comprehensive, whole-of-government audit of regulatory burden on home buying and building.
CSSA called for the audit, to be conducted under the National Cabinet, in a formal submission to the Productivity Commission’s Inquiry into Housing Regulation.
CSSA also contributed jointly with the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference through the Bishops Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service to the Senate Select Committee’s Inquiry into Intergenerational Housing Inequity, reinforcing the critical need to understand and address how regulation impacts housing supply and affordability.
“Regulation is not inherently negative. It is introduced to address specific problems or market failures,” CSSA chief executive Jerry Nockles said.
“However, regulatory impact analysis must be rigorous, transparent, and genuine, ensuring that regulations remain fit for purpose, avoid unnecessary duplication, and operate coherently alongside other policy settings.”
Dr Nockles highlighted the importance of ongoing regulatory review to prevent unintended consequences that disproportionately affect the most vulnerable Australians.
“Without regular reassessment, well-intentioned regulations can inadvertently constrain housing supply, driving up costs and limiting access – experienced most acutely by low-income households,” he said.
The submission stresses that increasing housing supply is fundamental to improving availability and affordability across the entire housing market, including affordable and social housing.
“Housing supply is the cornerstone of affordability. When supply is constrained, it drives up prices and rents across all market segments, including affordable housing,” Dr Nockles said.
“Without sufficient supply, policies aimed at supporting disadvantaged households or first-home buyers have limited impact.
“Housing is essential social infrastructure, not merely a market commodity. To address intergenerational housing inequity and improve outcomes for Australia’s most disadvantaged and marginalised, we must remove unnecessary regulatory barriers that delay and increase the cost of building homes.”
The proposed audit would quantify the direct and indirect costs imposed by federal, state, territory, and local government regulations; identify duplications and inefficiencies; and establish a baseline for ongoing reform and accountability.
“Unlocking housing supply requires coordinated action across all levels of government. This audit is a foundational step to ensure reforms are evidence-based, targeted, and effective in supporting those Australians most in need,” Dr Nockles said.
CSSA called on the National Cabinet to prioritise this audit as part of a comprehensive approach to housing reform that supports families, communities, and future generations.
CSSA’s submission can be found here.
FULL STORY
