The Civil Contractors Federation commends the Federal Opposition’s $5 billion policy to fast-track the construction of housing enabling infrastructure.

CCF National CEO Nicholas Proud said: “You cannot spend a dollar on housing until you spend a dollar on housing enabling civil infrastructure. Water, sewerage, energy, and roads must come first for new housing estates, and infrastructure capacity upgrades are required in brownfield areas.

“Infrastructure constraints are a major reason housing supply is at decade lows. While other forms of stimulus have been tried, housing enabling civil infrastructure will be key to unblocking housing supply pipelines and unlocking doors.

“Such policies are not new, but they are highly effective. Post-World War II, state governments competed to provide housing enabling infrastructure to attract migrants. Since that time, we have shifted infrastructure costs onto the end consumer.

“The Federal Opposition’s policy recognises that the cost of enabling infrastructure is blocking the activation of land for housing. Addressing this ‘missing link’ will help revive housing starts.”