Former Labor senator Stephan Conroy said the Albanese Labor government must pursue a radically different strategy to increase housing supply for the next generation [1].

The call for a policy shift comes as a growing number of children face a future where homeownership is financially unattainable. If the government fails to alter its approach, it risks locking an entire generation out of the property market.

Conroy addressed these concerns in the context of the 2025 federal budget [1]. He said that the current trajectory of housing availability and pricing is unsustainable for young Australians. The need for a new direction is driven by the reality that many children are currently unable to afford a home, and will continue to face this barrier as they enter adulthood [1].

"The amount of kids who are unable to afford a home now and into the future is the basis of which the government has changed its position," Conroy said. "And decided it’s got to do something radically different if it wants to give kids a chance to get a home" [1].

While the specific mechanisms of this new strategy have not been fully detailed, the emphasis remains on boosting the overall supply of dwellings. This approach seeks to counteract the scarcity that has driven prices upward, making the market inaccessible for those starting their careers.

The push for a structural change in housing policy reflects a broader tension within the federal government to balance economic growth with social equity. By focusing on the long-term prospects of the youth, Conroy said the government is recognizing that incremental changes to current policies are insufficient to solve the affordability crisis [1].

“The government must pursue a "radically different" strategy to boost housing supply for the next generation.”

This shift indicates that the Albanese government may be moving away from traditional housing subsidies or minor incentives toward more aggressive supply-side interventions. By framing the issue as a generational crisis, the government is positioning housing affordability not just as an economic metric, but as a fundamental social equity problem that requires a systemic overhaul of how homes are built and distributed in Australia.