Ben Phillips will discuss the Australian National University’s new estimates of supply and demand for housing at a regional and national level. The research considers the question of whether Australia and its regions have a housing shortage or surplus. The research uses ABS Census data and a range of other data sets to estimate housing demand and supply from a demographic growth perspective. We find that in aggregate Australia does not have a housing shortage but there is considerable variation at the regional level with housing surpluses in Australia’s major capital city CBDs and some mining areas of regional Queensland and Western Australia. The research does also find regions with housing shortages, particularly in middle and outer ring areas of Sydney and Melbourne. We also consider the relationship between the supply ‘gap’ and house price growth at a regional level.

The panel members include housing research experts from academia, industry and government. All have vast experience in the field of housing policy in Australia. The panel will provide unique and diverse range of insights into the housing market in Australia. Each panel member will be asked to respond to the ANU research and add their own valuable insights in the housing market from the perspective of housing affordability and the housing market in general. The conversation will then open up into a panel discussion with audience participation.

Panel:
 
Ben Phillips: ANU Centre for Social Research & Methods
Paul McBride: Department of Social Services
Judy Yates: University of Sydney
Brendan Coates: Grattan Institute
Alex Waldron: Master Builders Association
 
MC: Professor Peter Whiteford, ANU Crawford School of Public Policy