Spotlight on ALP’s housing policies
30/05/2025
Anthony Albanese’s focus has shifted from campaigning to governing, which means voters will be watching to see how he implements the promises he made to first home buyers and homeowners during the election.
The Australian Labor Party (ALP) promised to reform the Home Guarantee Scheme, which currently includes income caps ($125,000 for individuals and $200,000 for joint applicants) and is limited to 50,000 participants per year. From 2026, there will be no caps on how many people can apply and no limit on how much applicants can earn, according to the ALP. “For first home buyers, you’ll be able to buy an eligible property anywhere in Australia, with a deposit as low as 5%.”
Labor also pledged $10 billion to fund up to 100,000 homes reserved exclusively for first home buyers. “Funding will support enabling infrastructure, land purchases or construction to get these homes built – near work and family, only for first home buyers.”
The ALP said it would further spur homebuilding activity – and thereby put downward pressure on prices – by investing funds to increase the number of qualified tradespeople and reduce the amount of red tape related to residential construction.
From 1 July 2025, Labor said it would roll out its $2.3 billion Cheaper Home Batteries Program, which is projected to reduce the cost of a typical installed battery by 30%. This is expected to result in power bill savings of $1,100 per year for households that already have rooftop solar and $2,300 for households that install it.
