Cost of Living, Housing and Infrastructure Policy

The cost-of-living crisis requires bold, practical, and evidence-based solutions. Our strategy is built upon policies that have delivered results internationally while being carefully adapted to Australia's unique economic, geographic, and demographic circumstances.

Restoring Housing Affordability

For too long, governments have relied on demand-side policies that inflate property prices while failing to address the underlying shortage of housing. We believe the solution is simple: build more homes.

Our government will launch a nationwide program of housing and infrastructure construction, creating thousands of skilled jobs while significantly increasing housing supply. By addressing shortages at their source, we will place downward pressure on housing prices and rents, making home ownership achievable once again for ordinary Australians.

We will phase out ineffective housing policies that artificially stimulate demand without increasing supply. Instead, we will focus on delivering tangible affordability through large-scale construction and strategic urban development.

All new developments will be built to modern environmental standards, incorporating sustainable construction methods, energy-efficient design, and emerging green technologies. This approach will reduce long-term household costs, strengthen energy security, and support the growth of future-focused industries.

Putting Home Ownership First

The primary objective of this program is to expand private home ownership.

The overwhelming majority of homes constructed under this initiative will be sold directly to individuals and families. We will introduce safeguards to prevent excessive acquisition by large institutional investors and multinational corporations, ensuring that Australian homes are owned by Australians rather than being treated as speculative financial assets.

A portion of housing stock will remain publicly owned to provide affordable accommodation for young families, key workers, and vulnerable Australians through locally managed housing programs.

National Building Maintenance Program

Housing affordability does not end with the purchase of a home.

We will establish a nationally coordinated maintenance and repair service capable of providing affordable, standardized building maintenance for homeowners and tenants. This initiative will reduce long-term housing costs, improve building quality, and create additional skilled employment opportunities across the country.

Building the Transport Networks of the Future

Housing development must be accompanied by world-class infrastructure.

Every major new housing development will be integrated with modern public transport from the outset, including metro systems, light rail networks, and high-frequency bus services. This will reduce congestion, shorten commuting times, and provide Australians with genuine transport choice without restricting personal vehicle ownership.

We will also invest in the modernization of existing communities by retrofitting transport infrastructure into established suburbs and regional centres.

Our transport strategy will embrace advanced technologies, including electrified rail systems and next-generation public transit solutions, improving efficiency while reducing emissions and supporting cleaner, healthier communities.

Affordable Energy for Australian Families

Reducing energy costs is essential to reducing the overall cost of living.

We will invest in reliable, affordable energy generation and modernize Australia's electricity grid to improve efficiency, resilience, and affordability. By expanding access to renewable energy sources alongside the infrastructure required to support them, we will reduce household energy bills while strengthening national energy security.

As part of this strategy, we will pursue the gradual renationalization of critical electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure. Essential energy networks are natural monopolies that should operate in the public interest rather than primarily for private profit. Bringing key elements of the grid under public ownership will allow for long-term planning, improved accountability, and greater investment in reliability and maintenance.

Public ownership of strategic energy infrastructure will help reduce unnecessary costs, ensure that revenues are reinvested into network improvements, and provide greater transparency in pricing. This approach will strengthen Australia's energy independence while helping to shield households and businesses from excessive price increases driven by short-term market pressures.

This transition will create thousands of permanent skilled jobs and position Australia as a leader in the industries of the future, delivering an energy system that is affordable, reliable, and accountable to the Australian people.

Responsible Funding

Our plan is fully funded without increasing taxes on working Australians.

Funding will be secured through a comprehensive review of corporate subsidies currently provided to highly profitable businesses where those subsidies no longer serve the national interest. We will also reform the taxation framework governing Australia's natural resources sector to ensure Australians receive a fair return from the extraction of publicly owned resources.

No new taxes will be imposed on ordinary Australians under this plan. As economic conditions improve and productivity increases, our long-term objective is to reduce the overall tax burden on households while maintaining responsible fiscal management.

A Vision for the Future

Our goal is straightforward: lower costs, affordable homes, reliable transport, cheaper energy, and greater economic opportunity.

We believe Australians deserve a government that tackles the root causes of the cost-of-living crisis rather than offering temporary fixes. Through investment in housing, infrastructure, energy, and productivity, we will build a stronger, more prosperous nation that works for current and future generations alike.