SA UNIONS CALL FOR URGENT REBUILD OF THE HOUSING TRUST TO DELIVER 12,000 NEW HOMES
Media Release - 12/12/2025
SA Unions have today released a comprehensive housing policy paper calling on the State Government to take the reins of the housing crisis by ambitiously rebuilding the Housing Trust to deliver 12,000 new homes.
The report, “Short on Homes”, argues that private interests and developers are failing to guarantee supply, often hoarding land while waiting for prices to rise. With Adelaide house prices soaring by 84 per cent in the last five years to reach a median price of over $1 million, SA Unions declares that the government “cannot be a passenger” waiting for the private sector to fix the problem.
- Rebuild the Housing Trust: Mandate the construction of 12,000 new properties, matching the scale of major private developments like Riverlea.
- A “Sell One, Build One” Model: Allocate 50% of new builds as permanent public housing and 50% to a “Perpetual Rent-to-Buy Engine,” where revenue from sales immediately funds replacement homes.
- Grow and Support the Workforce: Mobilise the 30,000 more workers we need by improving safety, raising apprentice wages, and using public projects to train the next generation.
- Efficient Planning & Innovation: Implement architectural “pattern books” for pre-vetted designs that can be approved in as little as 10 days and invest in local modular housing manufacturing.
SA Unions Secretary Dale Beasley said the government cannot afford to sit on the sidelines.
“Every South Australian worker deserves to live in a quality home close to their workplace and the community they love.”
“We cannot be a passenger, waiting for private developers to fix this problem. Workers are facing the pointy end of a crisis created by a property market focussed on the hoarding of wealth, instead of guaranteeing people a home. We can’t continue on this path.”
“If private interests can’t provide homes that workers can afford to buy or rent, the State Government has a responsibility to step in and drive supply. South Australians have built our way out of a housing crisis before, and we can do it again.”
“Public housing cannot simply be a safety net for the most vulnerable. By rebuilding the Housing Trust, the State Government can deliver a legacy of secure housing and accessible pathways to home ownership for all South Australians.”
The Reality for Young Workers
The report highlights the struggle of young workers trying to enter the housing market. Gabbi Colloff, a 21-year-old retail worker who currently lives at home, says the independent rental market, let alone ownership, feels impossible.
“The idea of being able to move out of home seems far-fetched as it is, let alone being able to buy a home,” Colloff said.
“The housing market is so brutal, that even if my wage was doubled, I still wouldn’t be able to afford to buy even a small unit.”
“This is why I registered for the Rent-to-Buy program, it is one of the only ways that I can see myself being able to afford to buy a home. We need long-term programs that give people like me a genuine pathway to home ownership.”
Cooper Mann, a second-year fitter & turner apprentice, says the dream of home ownership feels impossible for his generation.”Buying a home feels completely out of reach for people my age,” Mann said.
“It feels like the ladder has been pulled up. Older generations got into homes cheaply and the Housing Trust was much stronger back then, but now we’re left with sky-high prices and no support.”
Cooper also highlighted the retention crisis in the construction industry, noting that poor pay and conditions are driving young workers away.
“Every time I’m at TAFE, I see more and more apprentices have dropped out, because the construction industry needs to improve. It’s hard to stick with a trade when you’re only paid $15 an hour and safety isn’t taken seriously.”
Growing and Supporting the Workforce
South Australia needs 30,000 more workers, including 15,000 tradespeople, to meet current housing demand. However, almost half of all apprentices currently drop out before completion.
“We can’t build homes without workers, and we can’t keep workers if we don’t support them,” Beasley said.
You cannot expect to grow a skilled workforce when young workers are earning well below the minimum wage.
“We need the State Government to act as a model employer, ensuring that every public housing project supports safe, secure, and well-paid jobs that allow apprentices to afford to finish their training.”
~ENDS~