AGP Executive Report

Alleged Agent “Flipping” Scheme: Melbourne’s outer suburbs are at the centre of claims that rogue Raine and Horne Land Victoria agents repeatedly undervalued land, then sold to friends or associates without disclosing links—an alleged $40m-plus scheme. Housing Supply Pushback: Metricon CEO Brad Duggan says Labor’s 1.2 million homes target was never discussed with Australia’s biggest builder, warning the goal won’t land until mid-2030 and calling for deeper planning reform. Regional Price Drop: Daylesford, Vic, is seeing a sharp pullback, with the median house price down $133,000 from its March 2023 peak to about $792,000, as buyers shift toward better value. Land Tax Explained: A fresh explainer breaks down how a land value tax works—charging the unimproved land value rather than the property itself—framing it as a way to tax “unearned” location gains. Property Safety/Crash: A Gold Coast property influencer walked away after a $1m Ferrari was split in half in a tree crash, highlighting how quickly luxury assets can become liabilities.

Housing & rates pressure: New figures show Australians in the highest-charging council areas are paying up to nearly $3,000 a year, with many councils lifting bills 3% to 12% while residents say services aren’t improving. Infrastructure-led growth: A new report flags 10 property “hot spots” likely to benefit from the nation’s massive transport pipeline, arguing homes near major projects can see stronger capital growth. Housing supply push: A Labor-aligned think tank backs faster, modular home building to tackle Australia’s housing crisis and rebuild local manufacturing capacity. Property finance tips: A guide explains how offset accounts can reduce mortgage interest and boost wealth-building without the tax hit of typical savings returns. Rural land & carbon debate: Tasmania’s Rushy Lagoon sale to a forestry asset manager is sparking backlash over turning grazing into pine plantations for carbon credits, with critics calling the “offset” maths and process questionable. Construction & building industry: A report warns Australia’s home-building system is too slow and inefficient, while another piece highlights the need for safer, faster responses to electrical emergencies in homes.

Commercial Property Development: Perth Airport’s Skyfields is kicking off a major retail and lifestyle expansion at Dunreath Green, a 26-hectare greenfield site near the CBD, with Skyfields planning over 250 hectares of non-aviation mixed-use development over the next decade. Construction & Home Safety: A Perth grandmother faces a potential $115,000 demolition bill after an asbestos find inside her home, highlighting the knock-on costs and uncertainty for older housing stock. Data Centres & Water Use: Reuters reports OpenAI’s Australian data-centre plans have dropped recycled-water cooling after infrastructure hurdles, underlining the resource and planning pressure around the AI build boom. Housing Market Watch: South Australia’s home values keep rising in the latest Valuer-General figures, while SA’s unit median fell over the quarter but is up over the year. Policy & Migration: Home Affairs has updated citizenship by conferral requirements for 2026, setting out seven conditions for permanent residents. Legal Risk for Owners: Carlyon Ward warns outdated commercial contracts are driving avoidable disputes in construction, franchising and partnerships.

Housing Market Watch: Melbourne house prices have recorded their biggest quarterly drop in almost four years, with Domain reporting a 3.1% fall in the June quarter and the first annual decline in 15 months—plus units also softening, signalling buyers are getting cautious. Local Property Signals: Newtown in Canberra is flagged as “undervalued”, with research suggesting homes trade about $293,000 below comparable nearby suburbs, hinting at potential catch-up if demand returns. Construction & Risk: A major fire is still burning at a Canberra recycling facility in Pialligo, with crews expecting ongoing operations due to deep-seated rubbish. Energy & Land Use: Ark Energy has locked in $A1.3b funding for a Richmond Valley solar-plus-storage project near Casino, moving toward construction and grid operations. Defence Infrastructure: Australia will add $4.6b to the AUKUS shipyard at Osborne, lifting the construction yard spend to $8.5b as the nuclear submarine build ramps up.

Housing Market Signals: Sydney home ownership has plunged to 70-year lows, with new data putting the city’s rate at 59.9% and adding fuel to the debate that chronic undersupply—not subsidies—is driving renters’ squeeze. Data Centres vs Homes: Industry is warning that data centre growth could derail PM’s housing goals, as planning and power constraints intensify. Commercial Property Moves: ESR-Reit is pushing ahead with another Australia logistics purchase—18 Foxley Court in Melbourne for A$52.5m—adding to a wider logistics push and aiming for DPU accretion. Construction & Infrastructure: A major AUKUS-related funding boost is set to lift investment in Adelaide’s Osborne shipyard by $4.6b to $8.5b, underlining the scale of federal construction spend. Cross-Tasman Investment: NZ utility Mercury is investing NZ$53m for a stake in data centre developer Datagrid, with construction planned later this year.

Housing Supply & Costs: Australia’s construction worker shortage is still a major bottleneck, with economists warning there’s no quick fix—boosting training and targeted skilled migration is flagged as the most practical path. Building Materials Pressure: Master Builders Australia says building costs are rising, but suppliers are often recouping higher input costs via surcharges rather than broad price hikes—though higher oil prices could feed through. Policy & Approvals: The Environment Protection Reform Act is reshaping EPBC approvals with a new National EPA and a faster assessment pathway, but key standards and “net gain” details are still being finalised. Market Watch: Sydney home prices are reported to have logged their biggest drop since 2022, while SA’s fastest-selling suburbs show buyers increasingly choosing units for affordability. Construction Innovation: Metricon’s China-made modular homes in Melbourne are being built in about 20 days, highlighting faster delivery potential for new builds. Big Projects Timeline: Brisbane’s 2032 Olympics countdown clock is now running, but concerns remain about how much major work is actually underway. Property Industry People: Property Council of Australia’s Victorian director Cath Evans is set to exit and join VCCI. Buyer Compliance: New anti-money laundering rules from 1 July mean agents may ask more about identity and the source of funds.

Housing Market Turn: Domain says Australia’s capital city house prices fell 1.4% in the June quarter and units dropped 1.2%, marking the first broad downturn in more than three years as higher rates, affordability limits and longer selling times bite. Perth Cooling: Domain data shows Perth’s median house price still sits at $1.18m, but growth slowed to just 1% for the quarter and units fell 1.3%, signalling a “turning tide” after 15 straight quarters of gains. WA Supply Watch: House supply is tipped to rise as the WA market slows, adding pressure to a market that’s been running hot. Local Brand/Property Adjacent: Planet Fitness franchisee Bravo Fit is backed with fresh capital after Franchise Equity Partners bought the business from existing shareholders, aiming to expand its club pipeline across multiple states and territories. Renewables Investment: Yanara secured €150m from Mirova to accelerate utility-scale renewable development across Australia, backing more than 2GW of multi-technology projects. Energy & Gas Pipeline: Tamboran says its Beetaloo pilot is on track for gas sales to the NT government in Q3 after completing a major well stimulation campaign.

Housing & Construction Watch: HIA says new home sales are softening and cancellations are jumping, with builders warning commencements could fall as interest rates bite and SMSF borrowing restrictions loom. Policy & Public Housing: NSW public housing fire risk claims hit the headlines again after a Glebe unit fire followed years of neighbour complaints. CBD & Commercial Property: Dexus flags Melbourne’s CBD office market as “structurally challenged” and moves to sell the former RBA Collins Street site after a write-down. Renewables & Energy Infrastructure: A $32m federal boost backs HAMR Energy’s Port Adelaide jet-fuel refinery plan using forestry waste, while WA’s Menzies town targets up to 80% renewables via solar-plus-battery. Grid Tech & EVs: Two EV charging projects win federal Grid Enhancing Technologies grants, exploring vehicle-to-grid and dynamic pricing. Data Centres & Land Use: Atlassian’s Sydney hybrid timber tower tops out as it continues to build despite AI-driven job cuts, underscoring ongoing demand for space. Property Adjacent Finance: Proteomics’ national rollout deal with Healius signals more healthcare network reach, while uranium supply tightness keeps investor focus on nuclear fuel.

Construction Costs: Australia’s construction inflation is still rising, but not as fast as feared after Middle East tensions and oil shocks—Cotality’s Cordell index shows costs up 1% in the June quarter and 2.8% year-on-year. Housing Market Shift: Australia’s property markets are increasingly turning into a buyers’ market, with buyers holding back while prices soften. Social Housing Delivery: A new report says the government’s social housing push is well behind target—less than four per cent of the goal has been built. Big Build Scrutiny: Victoria’s “Big Build” is facing fresh scrutiny over alleged corruption and cost blowouts tied to the CFMEU, with calls for a royal commission growing. Renewables & Storage Finance: European Energy has secured major financing for Australia’s Mokoan hybrid solar-plus-storage project in Victoria, supporting grid stability as renewables scale up. Local Building Services: Central Coast builder ALG Building expands custom home building, renovations and extensions across the region.

Build-to-Rent Push: Coronation Property has secured planning approval for “City Starter” compact build-to-rent apartments in Sydney’s Inner West, aiming to make renting more affordable with 30–35sqm homes plus shared amenities. Rental Squeeze: New reporting says Sydney rents stay stubbornly high while rental supply remains tight, with analysts warning prices may keep rising as investors brace for budget-driven changes. Affordability Pressure: A separate piece flags a “housing double whammy” where home prices soften but rents climb faster, hitting first-home buyers just as they were meant to get relief. Policy Shock to New Builds: The HIA warns thousands of signed detached-home contracts using SMSF limited recourse borrowing arrangements could be cancelled after new legislation, potentially cutting detached commencements by 3.5–5%. Market Watch: Ray White data shows investor participation at auctions is creeping back after the budget, though it’s still below pre-budget levels. Cyber Risk: A UN-backed report estimates scam losses across East and Southeast Asia, Australia and NZ hit up to $114.1bn in 2025, underscoring the growing threat to households and businesses.

Housing Demand Cooldown: Younger borrowers are pulling back as mortgage demand falls 14% nationally, with WA the standout in June showing more resilient mortgage figures. Property Market Pressure: House prices are now falling in Brisbane and Adelaide too, not just Sydney and Melbourne, while auction clearance rates remain weak. Student Housing Shift: StarRez says student housing is moving beyond bed management as stress and complex needs rise, pushing operators toward smarter, connected tech. Construction & Infrastructure: South Australia is spending $3.5m remediating Southend Jetty lower landings to keep berthing safe, with works running to late August. Development Pipeline: Naturgy is backing a major Australian renewables build (290MW solar plus 180MW/360MWh battery). Local Planning Tensions: Brisbane residents are pushing back against new pickleball courts at Cox Park in Lota, arguing disruption and safety concerns. Mining & Critical Minerals: Andrew Forrest buys into EQ Resources, backing tungsten supply, while Sky Metals reports new high-grade tin-tungsten-silver intercepts at Tallebung.

Critical Minerals Investment: Billionaire Andrew Forrest’s Wonongarra is buying Oaktree’s 16.8% stake in EQ Resources, backing Mt Carbine tungsten production and signalling confidence in Australia’s critical minerals supply. Housing Finance Shock: The SMSF lending ban on Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangements is expected to derail thousands of pre-start home contracts, with HIA estimating about two-thirds of affected signed deals could be cancelled from 10 August. First-Home Buyer Momentum: In Sydney’s Forest Lodge, a one-bedroom unit sold for $757,000—over $100k above reserve—showing first-home buyers are active as auction clearance rates soften. Commercial Property Pulse: JLL says retail led FY26 commercial deals with about $13b transacted, driven by resilient income and a tight development pipeline. AI Governance for Buildings: Australia’s AI roadmap includes rules for data centres to cut water use and boost energy efficiency, with an Office of AI to roll standards out nationally. Fraud Prevention Push: Banks want easier access to ATO data via the consumer data right to stop AI-fuelled mortgage fraud using fake income documents. Strata Leadership: Marsh has appointed Justin Gillingham as head of strata, citing rising complexity and demand for better property risk protection.

AI & Housing Policy: Australia’s housing industry is warning the government’s new ban on SMSF borrowing for residential property could derail thousands of planned builds, with builders expecting up to 67% of signed contracts funded via limited recourse loans to be ditched. Data Centres & Community Backlash: Governments worldwide are facing mounting pushback over AI data centres, with objections focused on land, power and water—while Australia moves toward mandatory standards for AI use and data centre development. AI Rules for Government Decisions: Labor is also rolling out tougher rules for automated decision-making by federal agencies, alongside a “digital duty of care” aimed at big AI firms, plus privacy and consumer protections. Rental Market Pressure: New analysis highlights investors exiting parts of Victoria and Queensland, adding to concerns that fewer rental properties won’t help tenants even if it improves homeownership competition. Aged Care Development: SummitCare has gained approval for a $62m, five-storey redevelopment of its Jamisontown facility, replacing the current site with independent living, care services and new amenities.

Infrastructure Funding: WA’s Cook Labor Government will add $9.55m to the High Wycombe Community Hub, lifting total investment to nearly $40m for an aquatic centre, community facilities, gym and café near High Wycombe Station. Property Market Watch: Auction clearance rates have slipped again, landing around 50% nationally (likely ~48% after revisions), extending a slump not seen since the 2018 downturn. Foreign Buyer Signals: Agents say mainland Chinese and Hong Kong buyers are returning, helped by tourism appeal and moderating prices in Sydney and Melbourne. Construction & Labour: Worker shortages and slow foreign work-permit processing are delaying multimillion-dollar developments in western Fiji, highlighting how visa bottlenecks can stall projects. Planning vs Farming: Queensland is being urged to adopt a “Right to Farm” charter to reduce conflict as housing pushes closer to primary producers. Housing Supply Pressure: Tasmania’s population growth is slowing, but affordability problems remain, with experts pointing to vacant homes and rising building costs. Climate & Water: The Murray’s stubborn sand slug is worsening flow bottlenecks, with MDBA advice due on how to manage competing demands. Risk & Weather: Experts say Australia records far more tornadoes than people realise, with many going unnoticed in remote areas.

Foreign Buyers & Housing: Chinese investors are pulling back from Australian property while Japanese buyers surge, widening the gap in who’s backing the market and raising fresh concerns for renters who rely on foreign capital. Property Prices & Affordability: New data shows units are outpacing houses nationally, with affordability pressures pushing more buyers toward apartments. Unit Market Shift (Cities): Sydney’s unit growth is lagging Canberra, while Perth and Darwin lead the charge and smaller regional centres post big gains. Foreign Ownership Snapshot: Japan-based investors increased their registered residential interests, while overall foreign-owned home numbers ticked up slightly—yet the China slowdown is still being felt. Infrastructure & Growth: NSW has announced major upgrades to Bandon Road in Sydney’s northwest, targeting congestion relief for fast-growing suburbs like Riverstone and Box Hill. Data Centres vs Communities: Opposition to data centres is growing globally over land, power and water use, with governments facing protests, lawsuits and tighter rules.

Secret Harbour byelection: WA Nationals won’t field a candidate, urging voters to back the Liberals after Paul Papalia’s resignation. AI + power demand: A new report warns Asia’s AI data-centre boom is pushing electricity demand and driving a coal “stopgap” as renewables can’t keep up fast enough. Victorian housing rules: Proposed Victorian reforms would require a Section 32 vendor statement to be available for 14 days before some pre-auction contracts can be signed, with industry warning it could disrupt auctions. Solar access gap: Research finds rooftop solar and batteries are far less common in apartments/units than houses, due to shared-roof and body-corporate hurdles. Data-centre backlash: Opposition to data centres is growing in cramped urban areas, with residents citing fire, heat, noise and safety concerns. Consumer watchdog action: Consumer Affairs Victoria launches Federal Court action over alleged underquoting by a Melbourne east agency and agents. Construction + industry: Liberty Bell Bay’s manganese smelter closure raises the prospect of major rehabilitation costs landing on Tasmanian taxpayers.