Opposition leader Peter Dutton says he intends to restore the Australian dream of home ownership, promising $5 billion to fast-track building projects if the Coalition wins the next election. Dutton unveiled the Coalition's Housing Infrastructure Program on Saturday, designed to expedite the construction of up to half a million homes through a mixture of grants and concessional loans.
The Opposition also announced a freeze and a review of the National Construction Code, claiming changes to energy efficiency standards had added up to $60,000 to the price of a new home. Pressure had been mounting on the Opposition to unveil more policies ahead of next year's federal election, with housing affordability and cost-of-living front of mind for voters.