Speech titled ‘Why Housing Matters’ by Business Council of Australia Chief Executive Jennifer Westacott to the National Housing Conference 2012 in Brisbane on 31 October 2012

In this speech to the 2012 National Housing Conference, Jennifer Westacott discusses the performance of Australia’s housing market and its importance to productivity and the wider economy.

She outlines what she sees are four pillars to an effective housing market:

• increasing housing supply
• reducing costs
• affordable housing
• driving innovation.

She argues that delivering high-quality and affordable housing is important for building community acceptance for future growth in Australia’s cities and regions.