The 2025-26 ACT Budget supports the delivery of more homes for Canberrans.

Practical initiatives will:

• boost supply

• increase affordability

• deliver diverse housing to suit different stages of life.

As well as investing in affordable homes now, the Budget lays the foundations for more equitable housing in future.

Key initiatives include:

• an increase to the stamp duty concession threshold to above $1 million for all eligible purchasers

• 85 new public housing dwellings delivered through community housing providers under the Housing Australia Future Fund Facility (HAFFF)

• additional funding for the Affordable Housing Project Fund

• 300 affordable Build-to-Rent homes

• 17 new social housing townhouses acquired in Coombs under the Social Housing Accelerator

• ongoing investment in the Growing and Renewing Public Housing Program to maintain and expand Canberra’s public housing portfolio.

Stamp duty concessions

Stamp duty concessions will be expanded.

This makes it easier for Canberrans to enter the market and find a home that suits their needs.

From 1 July 2025, the Government will also increase the price threshold for the Home Buyer Concession Scheme, the Pensioner Duty Concession Scheme and the Disability Duty Concession Scheme.

Price thresholds will be indexed annually to the Canberra Consumer Price Index. In 2025-26, the threshold will be $1.02 million.

In 2025–26, eligible Canberrans looking to buy a new apartment, townhouse or a unit-titled property off-the-plan or in a suburban area (RZ1) for $1.02 million or less may be exempt from paying stamp duty.

This exemption aims to support development of dual occupancy properties on RZ1 blocks, contributing to more housing choice, access and affordability in our suburbs.

Reducing stamp duty will help to lower barriers to Canberrans seeking to fulfil their goal of home ownership.

Boosting the housing supply pipeline

The ACT Government is committed to enabling 30,000 new homes by 2030.

This is in partnership with the Australian Government.

Budget investment will kickstart a significant pipeline of new housing.  A range of policy initiatives and industry incentives will support this.

The Housing Supply and Land Release Program

The ACT Government’s Housing Supply and Land Release Program shows how it will achieve this target.

• The release of Government land will support nearly 26,000 homes over the next five years.

• Direct investment will build social and affordable housing.

• It’s expected new planning reforms will allow thousands more homes to be delivered on leased land.

Housing where and how Canberrans want to live

Budget investment will make it easier for people to find the home they need.

It will help Canberrans at all stages of life, whether they’re buying their first home, raising a family, ageing in place, or in need of supported housing.

This includes:

• direct investment in new social and affordable homes

• modernising the planning system to support medium-density supply

• targeted reforms to improve fairness and choice in the housing market.

Streamlining planning in the ACT

The ACT Government is also continuing the planning work needed to ensure Canberra grows in a smart, inclusive and sustainable way.

This includes:

• planning for new housing and community facilities in well-located areas. This applies particularly to those around town centres, local shops and public transport corridors.

• funding to support the Construction Productivity Agenda for the ACT of the new Planning Act. This is aimed at streamlining approvals and making things clearer for developers and the community.

Supporting apprentices in the construction industry

The ACT Government is also investing in construction skills and trades and productivity.

The Budget supports an increase to apprenticeship subsidies for training in six key construction trades.

Subsidies will rise to 90 per cent. This increase builds on existing investment in electrotechnology apprenticeships.

Investing in industry training will shape the workforce needed to build more homes.

Developing a future construction workforce

The ACT Government is also investing in measures to further build the workforce needed to meet housing targets. These include:

• an increase in training subsidies to 90 per cent for carpenters, plumbers, tilers, bricklayers and other critical construction trades

• the Try-a-Trade program in ACT public high schools to support more young women to enter the construction industry

• a $250 cost-of-living payment to apprentices and trainees

• an extra $250 for first-year apprentices and trainees. This complements the $10,000 payments available under the Commonwealth’s residential construction training incentive.

The Government will also continue to progress missing middle housing reforms, as well as supporting more well-located homes close to transport, services and jobs.