Queensland is experiencing a significant surge in housing construction, positioning the state as the national leader in new home builds, according to recently released data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The number of homes under construction in Queensland has risen to over 52,000, marking a 36 percent increase over the past two years—the highest growth rate seen among all Australian states during this period.

ABS figures for the quarter ending in June also indicate a 4.2 percent increase in construction completions across Queensland over the last two years. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie attributed these developments to the effectiveness of the state government’s housing policies, highlighting early signs that initiatives such as the Residential Activation Fund and Land Activation Program are starting to yield results.

“The trend is clear, the difference is stark. Queensland is leading the nation in delivering a place to call home after a decade where the dream of home ownership had become a nightmare,” Bleijie said. He emphasized that thousands of families now have new opportunities to purchase homes and that construction projects are increasingly reaching completion.

Nationwide, new home commencements grew by 7 percent in the June quarter, primarily driven by detached house construction. However, industry groups continue to caution that the country remains behind target to meet the goal of building 1.2 million new homes by mid-2029, as set out in the National Housing Accord.

Other states such as South Australia and Tasmania have also reported increases in total dwelling approvals, while New South Wales, Victoria, the Northern Territory, and the Australian Capital Territory showed declines on a monthly basis. Western Australia’s numbers remained largely unchanged during the same period.

To address workforce shortages impacting construction across Queensland, the state government has launched efforts to attract workers from interstate. This includes staffing needs for key projects such as infrastructure for the 2032 Olympic Games and new hospital developments. Bleijie described this strategy as a campaign to “beg, borrow and steal” skilled labor to support the sector.

In addition to workforce measures, the Queensland government has introduced several financial incentives to boost home ownership, particularly in regional areas. These include abolishing stamp duty for first-home buyers and doubling the first-home owner grant.

Housing supply and affordability are expected to remain central issues in the lead-up to the 2028 Queensland state election, with the government signaling its commitment to continuing efforts to ease the housing crisis.