Today’s decision by the Planning Minister, Chris Steel MLA, to approve the Missing Middle Housing Reforms marks a turning point for Canberra.
For decades, government policies have made it impossible to build the homes we need to provide diversity and choice in where we live. Solving our housing challenges requires bold, large-scale reforms. We commend Minister Steel for delivering on the Government’s election promises and reforming our zoning system to allow more homes across all of Canberra.
As Canberra grows, these reforms will give Canberrans the choice to live closer to job opportunities, shops, schools, parks and public transport, with a lower environmental impact. Allowing more homes to be built closer to opportunity and infrastructure is a win-win-win for our environment, our economy and our social wellbeing.
These reforms were made possible by the support of our Missing Middle Canberra partnership, backed by advocates from across the community and industry. Their support, advice and input over the past three years has been invaluable.
The final version of the amendment will now be presented to the Legislative Assembly, where a motion to reject may be brought within five sitting days. As the Standing Committee on Environment and Planning has unanimously recommended that the amendment be approved, we urge MLAs from all parties to support these reforms so they can commence as soon as possible.
We also urge the Assembly to pass the Planning (Missing Middle Housing) Amendment Bill 2026, which will cut unnecessary red tape and make Missing Middle housing easier to deliver. This bill is currently before the Standing Committee on Environment and Planning. The Assembly should pass this legislation quickly.
Once these reforms commence, we’ll be watching closely to see how they work in practice. Further tweaks should be expected as industry and government gain more practical experience with Missing Middle developments. For these reforms to be most effective, the Government must review other policy settings, including the Lease Variation Charge.
There is still more work to do, but today Canberra has decided to take a bold step in the right direction to solve our housing crisis and build a more liveable, sustainable and affordable city.
The above statement is attributable to Howard Maclean, Convenor, Greater Canberra.
Media enquiries: Please contact us at [email protected].
About Greater Canberra
Greater Canberra is a community advocacy group committed to affordable and high-quality housing in Canberra. We believe in a future where housing is abundant, and where everyone can enjoy a more sustainable and liveable city. For more information, see https://greatercanberra.org.