JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
16 October 2026
Federal Member for Fisher, Andrew Wallace MP, and Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Senator Andrew Bragg, will join Sunshine Coast residents, builders and housing industry representatives in Caloundra on Friday for a community forum focused on housing affordability, supply and practical local solutions.
The forum comes as Australians face mounting housing pressures, with rents rising 24 per cent since Labor came to office. Australia is completing around 175,000 homes annually against the roughly 280,000 now needed just to meet Labor’s own housing target.
Mr Wallace, a former builder who ran his own small building business before becoming a construction barrister, said he understood firsthand the challenges facing the industry and local families.
“I’ve spent years on building sites, running a small business and working in construction law. I know what it takes to get homes built, and I know the challenges that stand in the way,” Mr Wallace said.
“Here on the Sunshine Coast, we’ve got young people wondering whether they’ll ever afford a home in the community they grew up in, families struggling with rising rents and builders battling increasing costs and red tape.
“I want to hear directly from the people living and working through this crisis about what’s stopping us from getting more homes built.
“That’s why I’ve invited Senator Bragg to the Sunshine Coast, so our community can have a direct conversation with the Shadow Minister responsible for housing policy.”
Senator Bragg said Australia’s housing challenges required a greater focus on increasing supply and removing barriers to construction.
“Australia has a housing supply problem, and you cannot fix a housing shortage with higher housing taxes” Senator Bragg said.
“Labor promised 1.2 million new homes over five years, but after two years they are 125,000 dwellings behind and construction continues to fall short as first home buyers struggle to enter the market.
“The Coalition has proposed to cut back the 2,000 page National Construction Code to less than 100 pages so that it is easier to build cheap and safe homes that incorporate modern methods of construction, as well as investment in last mile housing infrastructure, and bringing in more skilled construction tradies.”
“I’m looking forward to hearing directly from Sunshine Coast residents and industry representatives about the challenges they’re facing and the solutions needed to get more good homes built.”
Mr Wallace said ensuring that housing remained affordable was critical to the Sunshine Coast’s future.
“The Sunshine Coast should remain one of the best places in Australia to learn, earn and retire, and that means making sure the next generation can afford to build a future here too,” Mr Wallace said.
[ENDS]
MEDIA OPPORTUNITY | FRIDAY 16 OCTOBER 2026
Media representatives are invited to attend the Community Housing Forum for interviews and overlay. Interviews will occur following the conclusion of the forum.We will endeavour to provide some overlay from the earlier private roundtable.
Date: Friday 16 October 2026
Time: 1pm – 2:45pm
Location: CCSA Hall (Back Hall), 1 Nutley Street, Caloundra QLD
Bragg Media Contact: David Nouri – 0401 392 624 – David.nouri@aph.gov.au
Wallace Media Contact: Brendan West – 0402 556 646 – Brendan.west@aph.gov.au
