Housing trust at record low as Australians rally for budget reform
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Photo by RDNE Stock
Australians’ trust in the nation’s housing delivery system has plummeted to a record low, according to the latest findings from independent community advocate AMPLIFY. Released today, the quarterly AMPLIFY Home Truths index reveals a growing public demand for transformative reform in the Federal Budget, with a significant portion of the population looking to Canberra for decisive action to address the ongoing housing crisis.
The comprehensive poll, which surveyed over 4,000 Australians, highlights a striking lack of confidence in the Federal Government’s ability to manage housing issues effectively. Nearly half of the respondents (49 per cent) hold the Federal Government responsible for the escalating costs associated with building new homes. In contrast, only 33 per cent blame state governments, and a mere 22 per cent point the finger at local governments.
This sentiment marks a notable increase in scepticism compared to previous years. As of the latest survey, 61 per cent of Australians expressed distrust in the Federal Government’s capability to enhance housing availability, a significant jump from 52 per cent recorded in October 2025.
Despite this lack of confidence, there is a clear appetite for change. A significant majority, 64 per cent, support tax reforms aimed at increasing housing supply, specifically backing changes to the Capital Gains Tax discount and negative gearing. This reflects a public willingness to embrace bold measures to tackle the housing shortage.
“Australians know that housing is a crisis 30 years in the making. That’s why two-thirds want the crisis to be treated like a national emergency,” stated AMPLIFY CEO Georgina Harrisson. She emphasised the urgent need for streamlined processes to facilitate the construction of nearly one million new homes by 2029, as outlined in the National Housing Accord target. “We desperately need to make it easier, faster and cheaper to build more homes,” Harrisson added.
The Federal Budget is seen as a pivotal moment to initiate much-needed reforms. “The Federal Budget is an opportunity to turn the tide by tackling tax reform, slashing red tape and delivering more affordable housing,” Harrisson continued.
AMPLIFY has put forward a detailed plan, titled “Solving Australia’s housing crisis: A promise broken, a plan to rebuild it,” which is based on the input of over 18,000 Australians. This initiative represents the largest community engagement on housing issues in the country’s history and offers a clear mandate for governments to align with public sentiment and pursue comprehensive reform.
The plan suggests that adopting these community-backed reforms could result in the construction of more than one million additional new homes and enable over half a million new first-time homeowners within the next decade. Furthermore, it promises to reduce housing costs by an average of $320,000.
“Our research shows that when Australians have a say in decisions that affect them, they back reforms far bolder than the political debate presumes,” Harrisson noted. She urged the Federal Government to seize this opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to resolving the housing crisis. “The Federal Government now has the chance to prove it understands the scale of the housing crisis and is prepared to do what is necessary to solve it,” she said.
The AMPLIFY Home Truths index, based on a survey of 4,253 individuals representative of Australian states and territories, was conducted between 19 March and 10 April 2026. This latest data underscores the critical need for a unified national strategy to address housing affordability and availability, with a clear call for leadership from the Federal Government to spearhead these efforts.