New Home Sales

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (14:31): My question is to the Treasurer. Can the Treasurer update the chamber on housing development and sales from the housing industry, in particular new home sales in South Australia?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (14:31): In addition to the information that I shared with members yesterday in relation to the HomeBuilder scheme going gangbusters, my attention has been drawn to a publication by the Housing Industry Association, 'A monthly update on the sales of new homes September 2020', produced by their national body. The Housing Industry Association looks at new home sales in all states and nationally as well. Just quoting from that, the HIA reports that:

SA has also seen a significant increase in new work entering the pipeline with the September 2020 quarter 77.7 per cent higher than the June quarter. When balanced with the low sales at the beginning of the pandemic the seven months to September 2020 are equal to [the same period for] sales in 2019.

Further on in their particular analysis of South Australia they report that:

Sales of new detached houses in South Australia increased by a further 29.7 per cent during the month of September 2020 to the strongest monthly result in over a decade.

So that goes back to 2010. They then repeat the analysis where essentially new home sales in the seven months since COVID restrictions were first implemented—the period from March to September this year compared to March to September last year, which is the pre-COVID stage—were essentially at the same level. They are extraordinarily encouraging figures in terms of the last seven months, and September in particular.

The information I shared yesterday in relation to the pipeline of work which will be coming towards the end of this year and through at least six to nine months of next year is encouraging in terms of current and future work. However, I think what these figures are demonstrating is that our housing sector in South Australia has been remarkably resilient in terms of the March to September figures on any of those measures—that is, the September numbers being the biggest increase, the strongest monthly result in over a decade according to the Housing Industry Association.

I guess more encouragingly, because that is in the middle of the pandemic or during the pandemic, from March to September our numbers in terms of new home sales actually held for the comparative period last year.

I think all members in this chamber recognise the very important role the housing industry sector plays in South Australia in terms of economic growth and jobs growth in this state. The government has worked assiduously with stakeholder groups, such as the Housing Industry Association and the Master Builders Association.

I would like to very briefly place on the record my thanks and congratulations to the outgoing Chief Executive Officer of the Master Builders Association, Mr Ian Markos, for his willingness to work with me and my office. He has always had very frank views in terms of the housing industry but nevertheless has spoken out fearlessly on behalf of the needs of the industry. I of course welcome the incoming appointment of the new chief executive officer, Mr William Frogley. I know the organisation will be in safe hands with Mr Frogley.

I note that prominent members of the Australian Labor Party's front bench have also publicly acknowledged that the organisation will be in safe hands over the coming years. Certainly, I do want to place on the record my thanks to Mr Markos for the work he has done and welcome the appointment of Mr William Frogley to the new position.