Property Council wants a new watchdog role ahead of the 2026 state poll
The Property Council has called for Victoria to appoint a housing commissioner with powers to speed up residential construction, examine causes of project delays and bolster confidence among developers and investors.
The proposal appears in the organisation’s 2026 Victorian Election Policy Platform, which sets out a package of planning, infrastructure and investment measures aimed at lifting housing supply and improving delivery timelines.
Under the plan, the commissioner would publish an independent annual “Housing Supply Scorecard”, tracking current output and forward supply. The report would include assessments of land availability, infrastructure readiness, project feasibility and obstacles that slow development.
The role would also work with Treasury and relevant agencies to align tax settings, planning rules and infrastructure delivery with housing targets.
“Victoria should be ‘Best to Invest’; it has the foundations for long-term prosperity – strong population growth, world-class education and health institutions, and is one of the most liveable cities in the world,” said Cath Evans (pictured right), Victorian executive director at the Property Council. “But rising state debt, infrastructure pressures and increasing tax and regulatory burdens risk undermining investment, housing delivery and, ultimately, Victorians’ quality of life.”
Evans said a commissioner would give government clearer visibility of barriers affecting feasibility and investment decisions across the development pipeline.
“Property is one of Victoria’s largest industries, employing hundreds of thousands of people and delivering the homes, workplaces and communities our growing population relies on,” she pointed out. “A housing commissioner would act as a bridge between industry and government, providing independent advice on feasibility, investment conditions and the barriers slowing down housing delivery.
“If we want more homes built, more infrastructure delivered and more jobs created, government must have a clear understanding of the economic realities facing the sector.”
The platform is framed around three priorities: improving Victoria’s competitiveness for private capital, increasing strategic investment in infrastructure and land to match population growth, and lifting state productivity through quicker planning and approvals.
Evans believes the sector is prepared to work with government on delivery. “Our platform is optimistic and forward-looking,” she said.
“With the right policy settings, Victoria can unlock billions of dollars in private investment, accelerate housing supply and strengthen its reputation as not just a great place to live, but the best place to invest, work and do business.
“But achieving that requires a stable, competitive policy environment that supports confidence and certainty.”
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