2026-06-11
The ACT Greens have welcomed the commencement of reforms to support the delivery of more missing middle housing across the ACT - marking progress that the Greens have championed for many years.
"The Greens know that good city planning does not happen by accident - it takes deliberate policy levers and ongoing review to ensure the conditions are right," said Ms Clay.
“That's why we have long advocated for what's commonly called 'missing middle' housing and I am pleased to support the reforms that are now before the Assembly - these are good steps in the right direction.
"We need to increase the number and types of homes we have across our suburbs so that Canberrans have more options for different types of housing close to jobs, shops, public transport and community facilities. We need to provide the opportunity for people to live in the right house in the right place at the right time.
"We also need to stop forcing people out to the edges of our city, adding to urban sprawl and destroying important habitat and precious bushland.
"Last election we brought forward policies to increase housing density and to establish an urban growth boundary in Canberra and we are pleased to see the Government committing to deliver these important initiatives. This term I got Parliament to vote to set an urban growth boundary, protect the Western Edge and support missing middle housing.
"These reforms will take our city in the right direction, but we will be watching their implementation closely to see how they progress as our population grows.
"In particular, we want to ensure that in progressing these reforms we don’t lose our tree canopy cover and green spaces that provide an essential cooling across the suburbs. In a changing climate, this will become even more important.
"We also want to ensure that Canberrans have the infrastructure they need, where they need it - that’s things like good public transport, community facilities, shops and parks.
"And of course, we must ensure through all of our planning and housing reform that we get much more public and community housing to ensure that every person in Canberra has a comfortable and safe place to live.
"We must also ensure that the missing middle housing is a 'good neighbour' and 'fits in' with the existing amenity and character of the area.
"Minister Steel has flagged further reforms that he wants to progress, including on inclusionary zoning - which the Greens took to the last election, as well as LVC and pattern book design. I have already been talking with interested groups about these areas of reform and I look forward to working with Minister Steel on these and other initiatives.
"Canberrans want a vibrant city where they can move around easily, with options for different types of homes with access to good public transport and community facilities. And they also want to preserve our precious bushland surrounds and see good design. We need to ensure that these reforms strike that good balance," said Ms Clay.
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