Shadow Minister for Planning, Peter Cain, has called on the Planning Minister to release more land for residential dwellings after he said in Budget Estimates hearings today that land is released in response to population growth.

Under sustained questioning from Mr Cain about the Indicative Land Release Program for 2023-24, which is set to only release 1,883 residential dwellings this financial year, the Planning Minister even claimed that the government’s land release policy is “not about financial return at all.”

“I call on the government to act decisively and with urgency to help alleviate the ACT’s severe housing crisis by releasing more land,” Mr Cain said.

“Despite what the Minister said today, population growth is far outstripping land release further exacerbating the housing crisis.”

“The ACT Budget has population growth of 2.25% in 2023-24 and 2% across the remainder of the forward estimates, which equates to over 9,000 people per year.”

“Based on Minister Gentleman’s own figure of 2.4 occupants per dwelling and the 1,883 properties due for release this year, that means housing for around 4,500 people – just half of the increase in population growth.”

“Minister Gentleman said the private sector will pick up the gap; however, the government is the monopoly land provider in the ACT, so such a claim just doesn’t add up.”

“The apathy and incompetence of this government is fuelling the tragedy of the housing crisis that is having such profound and avoidable impact on the marginal in our community.”

“Minister Gentleman should be upfront with Canberrans. He is choking land supply to drive up the financial return received by the government. The Minister’s planning vision is driven by how much money this government can get from land.”

“I wonder just how many thousands of registrations for land ballots it takes until the Minister finally comprehends the demand and desperation of homebuyers in the ACT,” Mr Cain concluded.