Housing pain set to continue

Media Release | 3 February 2026

David Bolt MLA
Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness

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Despite the Cook Labor Government claiming it’s ‘pulling all the levers’ to fix WA’s housing
crisis, official home building approvals for the State in December have fallen to their lowest
level in six months.

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data released today shows dwelling approvals fell in
the final month of 2025 to 1842 approvals, the lowest level since June 2025 (at 1658
approvals) and a 10.5% drop from November 2025.

For 2025 the total number of dwellings approved was 23,991, 7% less than 2021 and a
huge 27% fewer approvals than under the Barnett Liberal Government in 2014.

Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness, David Bolt, said today’s ABS figures
were another blow to potential homeowners on the back of the RBA announcing a rise to
official interest rates.

He said despite the Government claiming it was doing everything possible to address the
State’s housing crisis, it was clear not enough progress was being made.

“We know there’s not enough skilled construction workers, we hear it from industry all the
time, so when is the Government going to prioritise finding more bricklayers, carpenters,
electricians and plumbers?

“The State is rapidly falling behind its National Housing Accord targets – WA is now more
than 4,500 homes behind, with housing completions also falling for the third consecutive
quarter to December last year.

“The Premier and the Housing Minister’s rhetoric is not matching what’s happening on the
ground. They are not addressing the scale of the problem, and it seems they’ve run out of
answers.

“It’s time to work with the sector and find real solutions that will see more homes built, and
more West Australians in a home, more quickly.”

Media contact: David Bolt MLA – 0400 123 268

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