Labor's Housing Plan ahead of the Election - 2025 Election
The Short Version
Labor is going big on housing ahead of the 2025 election - pledging 100,000 homes for first-home buyers, billions in new investment, rent support, crisis accommodation, and a crackdown on foreign investment. The goal? More homes, quicker builds, and better affordability for Australians.
100,000 homes just for first-home buyers
Labor will invest $10 billion to build up to 100,000 new homes specifically for first-home buyers, locked away from property investors. These homes will be built near work and family, with support for land, construction, and enabling infrastructure.
Universal 5% deposit access
From 2026, the Home Guarantee Scheme opens up to all Australians buying their first home:
- No income caps
- No participant limits
- 5% deposit requirement nationwide. This means broader access to ownership, especially in high-demand urban areas.
Smaller mortgages through Help to Buy
Labor's Help to Buy shared equity scheme (starting late 2025) has the government cover up to 40% of a new home's cost (30% for existing homes).
- First-home buyers need a lower deposit
- Smaller mortgages mean lower repayments
- You can gradually buy out the government's stake over time
Rent relief
Labor has delivered a 45% increase in Commonwealth Rent Assistance - the biggest back-to-back increase in over 30 years, helping over 1 million households better manage rising rents.
Supercharging housing supply
Labor is driving the biggest housing build in Australian history with a $43 billion investment and a target of 1.2 million new homes over five years.
Social and affordable housing push
Through the Housing Australia Future Fund and other programs, Labor is delivering:
- 55,000 social and affordable homes (28,000 already in development)
- Prioritising housing for vulnerable women, children, veterans, and key workers
- Aiming to cut social housing waitlists
Support for crisis accommodation
Labor is investing a record $1.2 billion into new crisis and transitional housing-for older women, young Australians, and those escaping family violence-to provide safe, emergency shelter for the most vulnerable.
More tradies, faster builds
To meet ambitious targets, Labor is investing in:
- $78 million to qualify 6,000 tradies via a fast-tracked skills program
- Free TAFE and $10,000 incentives for new apprentices
- $54 million for prefab/modular home manufacturing
- $120 million to help states cut planning red tape
Tightening foreign ownership rules
Starting 1 April 2025, Labor is imposing a 2-year ban on foreign residents buying existing homes and cracking down on foreign land banking, to ensure more stock stays available for Australians.
What do critics say?
Some experts remain cautious. While the 100,000 homes promise is welcomed, questions remain on how quickly they can be delivered given land availability and planning hurdles.
Others warn that expanded buyer support could drive up prices if supply doesn't scale fast enough. The shared equity model also raises long-term ownership questions for participants.
The Final Pitch
Labor is presenting a bold, multi-layered housing plan: mass construction, help for first-home buyers, rent relief, and supply chain reforms. Supporters see a serious national response to a decades-in-the-making crisis. Critics question the pace of delivery but agree housing is now at the heart of the 2025 election.
source: https://view.com.au/news/national/explainer-labor-s-housing-plan-ahead-of-the-election/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=mktg-comms&utm_term=election-special&utm_content=article