Today
James Hardie battles weak demand in Australian reno market
Renovators are holding off on big projects because of high building costs and economic uncertainty, but the building products maker expects an improvement in 2025.
- 40 mins ago
- Simon Evans
Yesterday
The Sydney suburbs where rents are falling
Asking rents have fallen in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. It’s not the end of the rental crisis but could mean the worst increases are over.
- Nila Sweeney
This Month
Labor warned CFMEU clean-up must go further
Legislation to put the militant construction union into administration will be introduced to Parliament this week but industry groups warned the looming takeover needed to go further.
- Andrew Tillett and Ronald Mizen
- Exclusive
- Building Bad
The union boss and the building executive
Multiplex executive Amy Pitchford is in a relationship with a CFMEU official being investigated by police, while also advising the Victorian government on industry issues.
- Nick McKenzie, David Marin-Guzman and Ben Schneiders
Watt moves to create CFMEU special powers
The deadline for the CFMEU to consent to the administrator has surpassed, triggering the government to move ahead with creating new laws.
- James Hall
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Housing crisis rages, but there’s no money in building flats
The property developer’s shock profit downgrade is all about its struggles to make apartment projects profitable, even as housing shortages worsen.
- James Thomson
Melbourne developers offer big rebates as unsold lots surge
Discounts of up to $35,000 are available and low deposits are being accepted as unsold stock rises to almost 3000 lots.
- Larry Schlesinger
Vale Terry Snow, legendary property developer with a generous heart
The hard-headed businessman, responsible for much of modern Canberra, was also a soft-hearted philanthropist who loved equestrian horses and the arts.
- Michael Bailey
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
AI, builders and bonuses: A survival guide to this earnings season
We are seeing just how fragile share prices are, which makes it all the more important for companies to impress investors in the coming four weeks.
- Anthony Macdonald
- Exclusive
- Proptech
The banker and the builders want subcontractors to get Paid
Former Bendigo Bank boss Mike Hirst has invested in an app that could protect subcontractors – and shake up the lucrative market for building contracts.
- Michael Bleby
Marinus Link makes billion-dollar cable commitment
The order should ensure the $3 billion-plus project to build a second power link to Tasmania starts up in 2030 when the energy market operator says it’s needed.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
- Exclusive
- Energy prices
Humelink budget trimmed but cost worries persist
The energy regulator has disallowed about $314 million of costs to build the contentious transmission line from Transgrid’s original proposal.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Mitsubishi partners with ESR on first Aussie logistics project
The Japanese property giant will add logistics to a local portfolio which includes investments in luxury apartments, build-to-rent and land lease estates.
- Larry Schlesinger
July
Elecnor blames earnings slump on SA-NSW high-voltage cable project
EnergyConnect’s Spanish contractor has recorded a provision of $13.98 million for losses on its Australian projects in the six months to June 30.
- Jenny Wiggins and Angela Macdonald-Smith
Home building crisis worsens with young tradies out of work
The wave of construction insolvencies is worsening an undersupply of homes and skills shortages, as trade apprentices are forced to drop out of TAFE courses.
- John Kehoe and Tom Rabe
Rich Lister-owned home building empire faces $100m class action
West Australian construction company BGC Housing Group – founded by the late Len Buckeridge and still controlled by the family – is facing a class action from potentially thousands of aggrieved home owners.
- Tom Rabe
- Analysis
- Commercial real estate
The new risk lurking in banks’ commercial real estate lending
While working from home is a known risk for office towers, Citi highlights a new pressure point for lenders – the growing cost of the energy transition.
- James Eyers
Architects, fire engineers, building surveyors fingered over cladding
Victoria’s combustible cladding crisis shows the permit system failed to ensure compliance with building rules, a new government agency report shows.
- Michael Bleby
Fear of CFMEU reprisals keeps building bosses silent
Major builders and developers say union power is driving up the cost of housing and infrastructure projects, and they don’t want more trouble on their sites.
- Michael Bleby, Nick Lenaghan and Larry Schlesinger
EnergyConnect exit leaves just months to turn around crucial grid link
Elecnor, the Spanish contractor building part of the key link needed for the transition away from coal power, is expected to cease its involvement by the end of September.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith and Jenny Wiggins
