Earlier today at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney, UDIA NSW hosted its annual Winter Luncheon with special guest speaker, the NSW Treasurer, the Hon. Daniel Mookhey MLC.
In a keynote that zeroed in on one of the challenges of our time, housing, the Treasurer addressed the pressing need to ensure more people in the State have a place to call home. He was clear: without enough housing for the people who keep the State running, the State faces not just a housing crisis, but an economic one.
The Treasurer used the platform to outline how the 2025–26 NSW Budget demonstrated the Minns Government’s commitment to tackling the housing crisis.
He spoke of the security of a house, the social cohesion it provides and that there is a critical need to “make sure we are building more homes” and went on to add that his budget will help build more homes, more of the skills needed and that “builds confidence”.
He acknowledged that the Government’s policy direction has been shaped by strong industry advocacy noting UDIA’s role in securing key reforms. Among the initiatives highlighted were:
- Pre-Sale Finance Guarantee – the Treasurer confirmed that this was directly influenced by industry advocacy, including that of UDIA NSW. Under this policy, the NSW Government will act as guarantor for up to 50% of approved housing projects, unlocking finance for developers and helping to accelerate the delivery of 15,000 new homes over five years.
- Works-In-Kind Policy – Mr Mookhey also recognised the influence of UDIA NSW in progressing this initiative, allowing developers to directly deliver vital infrastructure such as roads, parks and services in place of monetary contributions. He credited UDIA NSW CEO Stuart Ayres and the team for putting it “on the radar”.
In a candid panel discussion, the Treasurer emphasised the importance of robust and credible advocacy, saying: “I am sceptical, but I listen” while pointing out to the floor that they should “expect rigour” around their recommendations.
He also spoke about broader economic pressures, including the impact of the recent GST distribution decision, which he said represented a larger revenue loss to NSW than either COVID-19 or the Global Financial Crisis. NSW has lost a gross $12.3 billion in revenue but remains the only state to have lowered its debt forecast.
On the topic of workforce capacity, Mr Mookhey was blunt, “We don’t have enough construction workers in NSW.”
He noted the State’s current construction workforce of 400,000 is insufficient to meet the housing, infrastructure and disaster-recovery needs, pointing to substantial TAFE investment as a key response.
Importantly, he outlined the role of the new Investment Delivery Authority, inspired by the Housing Delivery Authority model, which will focus on non-residential projects over $1 million, aligning them with growing communities and the infrastructure they need.
Closing the event, the Treasurer reaffirmed the government’s growth-focused mindset and promised continued reform in the planning system saying the challenge of housing won’t be fixed in one budget but added: “We are serious about solving the housing crisis.”
The Primary Comms Group team was on the ground to support UDIA NSW and connect directly with the Treasurer following the on-stage Q&A, continuing the conversation around housing, reform and progress.
Importantly, he outlined the role of the new Investment Delivery Authority, inspired by the Housing Delivery Authority model, which will focus on non-residential projects over $1 million, aligning them with growing communities and the infrastructure they need.
Closing the event, the Treasurer reaffirmed the government’s growth-focused mindset and promised continued reform in the planning system saying the challenge of housing won’t be fixed in one budget but added, “We are serious about solving the housing crisis.”
The Primary Comms Group team was on the ground to support UDIA NSW and connect directly with the Treasurer following the on-stage Q&A, continuing the conversation around housing, reform and progress.
