Politics · Australia · 21 hrs ago
Melbourne housing plans become a key issue before November election
Melbourne’s housing plans are becoming a major issue ahead of Victoria’s November election.
The Labor government has rezoned areas around 60 train stations and tram stops to allow buildings of up to 20 storeys.
The Coalition says it wants to scrap those zones while increasing housing supply, but the policy has angered some local communities.
Housing experts and advocates argue that building more homes in established suburbs can help keep Melbourne relatively affordable.
Rents reached a record median of $600 a week for houses and units in September, although Melbourne rents remain lower than those in Sydney and Brisbane.
Victoria built 56,243 homes in the year to June, below both the previous year and the decade average.
The parties are set to debate how to increase housing supply while protecting affordability as voters approach the election.
Melbourne’s housing plans are emerging as a key issue ahead of the November election.
Labor’s activity-centres policy rezones areas around train stations and tram stops to allow buildings of up to 20 storeys.
The Coalition says it can increase housing supply while scrapping the government’s 60 activity centres.
Housing experts and advocates argue that building more homes in established suburbs can help preserve Melbourne’s relative affordability.
Median rents in Melbourne reached $600 a week for both houses and units in September, according to Domain data.
- Who
- Victoria’s Labor government and the Coalition, led by Opposition Leader Jess Wilson, are contesting the housing plans.
- What
- Labor’s activity-centres policy and housing supply have become election issues.
- When
- Ahead of the November election; the article was published on October 11, 2026.
- Where
- Melbourne and Victoria.
- Why
- The debate concerns housing supply, planning changes and the protection of relative affordability.
Victoria Labor
Victorian Coalition
Activity centres
Victoria Labor
Labor’s policy rezones areas around train stations and tram stops to allow buildings of up to 20 storeys.
Victorian Coalition
The Coalition says it can increase housing supply while scrapping the government’s 60 centres.
Building in established suburbs
Victoria Labor
Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny says voters can accept apartments around train stations or risk locking young people out of middle and inner suburbs.
Victorian Coalition
The Coalition opposes the current activity-centres policy, while saying housing supply can be increased without it.
That’s a sign of success in our ability to build the homes in places people want to live, both in greenfield suburbs and in infill areas.
And whoever’s elected at the next election needs to be looking at ways to try and continue that success.
We should be trying to keep that trajectory going, even if it does take time to make big gains.
The fact that Melbourne can offer Sydney wages and 2019 Brisbane rents is insane.
Labor committed to building 80,000 homes a year across Victoria over the following decade.
Median rents in Melbourne were $600 a week for both units and houses, according to Domain data.
The article reported that the Coalition was preparing to make Labor’s activity-centres policy a key issue in the November election.
Victoria’s election is due to take place.
- Activity centres
- 60 centres
- Permitted building height
- Up to 20 storeys
- Labor housing commitment
- 80,000 homes a year for a decade
- Melbourne median rent
- $600 a week for houses and units in September
- Melbourne median home price
- $780,550
- Victoria dwellings built
- 56,243 in the 12 months to June
Sources
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