Australia experiencing the worst year for home building since 2011
Data from the ABS paints a grim picture for the national target to build 1.2 million new homes
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Building approvals fell again in August, as the Federal Government’s pledge of providing 1.2 million new homes looks more out of reach than ever.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics released data today showing total dwelling approvals fell by 6.1 percent in August to 13,991. While approval for houses rose 0.5 percent, the non house sector — apartments and townhouses — experienced a massive fall of 16.5 percent to 4,418.
Master Builders Australia reported that the latest decline in approvals contributed to 2023-2024 being the worst year for home building in more than a decade.
“Detached house starts fell by 10.1 percent, while higher density commencements were down by 6.0 per cent,” said Master Builders Chief Economist Shane Garrett. “If building continues at this pace, we’ll be in for less than 800,000 new home starts over the next five years.
“This would mean a shortfall of over 400,000 homes compared with the National Housing Accord target.”
Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn said the data comes on the back of figures from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research which showed an alarming shortfall in the number of apprentices entering the industry and then completing their qualifications. Apprenticeship commencements fell 11.8 percent in the year to March 2023 while completion rates fell 8.6 percent over the same period.
“Today’s data releases aren’t unrelated,” Ms Wawn said. “To bring Australia out of the housing crisis we need to drastically increase the supply of housing and we can’t do that while we’re simultaneously suffering through a labour shortage.”
She said construction was experiencing a shortage of skilled workers across all trades.
“Until we’re able to address the challenges facing the future of the workforce, we won’t be able to increase building activity and reduce the impact of supply conditions in the residential building market on Australia’s inflation problem,” she said.
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The influencer and fitness entrepreneur is offloading the four-bedroom Main River residence she has called home since 2020 following her split from ex-husband Matt Zukowski.
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Fitness entrepreneur and social media personality Tammy Hembrow has put her Broadbeach Waters mansion on the market, ending a six-year stint in the riverfront home she has regularly featured in content shared with her millions of followers.
Hembrow bought the property in June 2020 for $2.88 million.
Sitting on an oversized 979sqm allotment with north-east orientation and more than 30 metres of river frontage, the double-storey residence is set behind security gates at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac.
The home has been a fixture of Hembrow’s online presence for years, serving as the backdrop to family life and business updates for the mother-of-three, who also lived there with her former husband, Love Island Australia star Matt Zukowski, before the pair separated in mid-2025 following a brief marriage.
Inside, the residence centres on an open-plan kitchen, lounge and dining area that opens onto the pool and alfresco entertaining space, designed to make the most of the Gold Coast’s indoor-outdoor lifestyle.
Upstairs, the master suite includes a walk-through robe, dedicated dressing room and ensuite, alongside two further bedrooms, while a fourth bedroom downstairs offers separate access for guests or extended family. A multi-purpose room adds flexibility for use as a media room, home office or children’s retreat.
Outdoor features include a tiled pool, built-in barbecue and bar area, firepit and private boat ramp — amenities suited to the waterfront entertaining lifestyle the Broadbeach Waters pocket is known for.
The property is being marketed by Jay Helprin of Ray White through an expressions of interest campaign, with private inspections only and no scheduled public opens.
Hembrow, who built her public profile from 2014, documenting her fitness journey through three pregnancies, went on to launch fitness app TammyFit, which has since been downloaded more than a million times.
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