Severe food insecurity in Australia rose by around 40 per cent between 2020 and 2024, according to an analysis of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey. The proportion of people affected grew from 2.1 per cent to 3.0 per cent. Single-parent families with children face the greatest risk, with rates rising sharply among those with older children. The increase varied across cities and regions. The authors say better data is needed to direct support to the people and communities at greatest risk.
Home building approvals in Geelong have risen 34 per cent over the past year to August, close to levels last seen in the 2022 Covid boom, according to KPMG analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics figures. The pipeline now sits at around 4000 new homes. KPMG urban economist Terry Rawnsley said the rise shows growing confidence in the city's long-term growth, but stressed that approved projects must now move through to construction. Lara has overtaken Armstrong Creek as the region's top approval area, with the activity shifting north.
New research from AFMS Group shows regional South Australia gives buying couples the greatest purchasing power. Couples could afford to buy in every suburb of outback South Australia, where the median price is $428,083. In Adelaide's central and hills region, couples can buy in just 55 per cent of suburbs. Realestate.com.au senior economist Eleanor Creagh said prices had fallen for a sixth month in a row, while loan lodgements in South Australia have dropped 25 per cent since January, according to Loan Market.
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A 26-year-old nurse, Liv Halliwell, says she plans to move permanently to New York, where she believes nurses earn almost double Australian salaries. She said she is also drawn to the city's lifestyle after a three-day visit. Halliwell will need to have her Australian qualifications verified and pass a US nursing registration exam before she can work there. Perth marketing manager Jade Lennard and her partner have also decided to leave Australia with their baby daughter, moving to Wales despite a combined household income above $250,000.
Williamstown in South Australia has been named the most budget-friendly day trip in a national affordability index. A day out for two people costs about $66.04, excluding accommodation. The study by car insurance provider ROLLiN' assessed 73 regional destinations on fuel, food, entry fees and attraction costs. McLaren Vale ranked first for overall value, while Geelong, Wollongong, Katoomba and Kalamunda rounded out the top five. Williamstown is about 20 minutes' drive from Hentley Farm in Seppeltsfield, a restaurant in the state's Michelin Guide.
Brisbane house prices fell 5.4 per cent in the September quarter, a drop of about $66,000 in three months, according to the latest Domain House Price Report. The typical house now sells for $1.15 million. The fall ended a 14-quarter growth run, which analysts linked to interest rate rises, stretched affordability and investors leaving the market. Only Perth recorded a larger fall. Domain's chief residential economist Dr Nicola Powell said prices are expected to fall again. Some pockets, including parts of the Redcliffe and Mount Gravatt areas, saw units rise slightly.
A women's health organisation in south-west Victoria has welcomed election commitments on abortion care from both Labor and the Liberal Party. Labor has pledged $30 million over four years to make abortion care free for all Victorians and extend medical abortion from nine to 10 weeks. Opposition leader Jess Wilson matched the funding pledge but ruled out changing the medical abortion time limit. Women's Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West chief executive Jodie Hill said removing the cost barrier would stop income determining access to care.
A Queensland building inspector has sparked debate after filming a new home built barely a fence's width from its neighbour. Anthony Baldwin shared the video to TikTok, mocking the cramped gap and the reality facing buyers in many new developments. A Sunshine Coast couple, Jake Philpott and Kaylie Stott, have also complained about a neighbouring build in Palmview that nearly touches their home. Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show new house blocks shrank 13 per cent over the past decade, while floor areas barely changed.
Melbourne rents were unchanged in the September quarter, with the median asking rent for houses and units at $600 a week. Domain's September 2026 Rental Report found no quarterly growth in either category, though rents still rose over the year. Economists say tenants' ability to pay is now limiting further increases. Melbourne's vacancy rate stayed at 1.4 per cent. Some renters are moving to cheaper areas, sharing homes or staying with family for longer. Victorian rules allow most rent increases only once every 12 months.
Property firm Hotspotting says working-class areas are set to outperform wealthier suburbs over the next seven to 15 years. Glenorchy in Tasmania and Canterbury-Bankstown in New South Wales are among its top picks. Its founder, Terry Ryder, says a poor reputation does not stop areas from growing in value. Hotspotting also expects smaller unit complexes built around the 1950s and 1960s to perform well. Real Estate Institute of Australia president Jacob Caine says homebuyers are looking at areas they previously overlooked.
Asking rents for houses in regional New South Wales have risen over the past year, led by smaller towns, according to Domain data. The median weekly rent reached $640 in the September quarter, up 4.9 per cent. Berrigan recorded the steepest rise at 18.5 per cent, followed by Bellingen at 18.2 per cent. Experts say tenants priced out of nearby areas are moving further afield, while new workers and limited housing supply add pressure. Local agents report strong demand and few available rentals.
New modelling from PropTrack projects that 33 suburbs across the Geelong region could have median house prices of $1 million or more by 2036. The analysis applies recent five and 10-year market performance to future periods, projecting growth across both affordable areas and family suburbs. Realestate.com.au economist Angus Moore said strong population growth and Geelong's commutable position to Melbourne are driving price growth. Buyers advocate Tony Slack said a shortage of new housing supply is keeping demand ahead of supply and maintaining prices.
Football Queensland has reversed its proposed changes to 2027 fees after member clubs across the state objected. More than 100 clubs wrote to the governing body earlier this month, saying the increase was unreasonably dramatic and could make the sport unaffordable for families. The body will keep its existing fee structure rather than introduce a new Competition Access Fee, though it will make modest adjustments for inflation. Player enrolment fees for 2027 will be $60 for MiniRoos, $80 for junior players and $150 for seniors.
House prices in seven Queensland suburbs could more than double by 2036, according to new realestate.com.au data. Woodridge is forecast to rise from $781,000 to $1.64 million, a gain of more than $858,000. Kingston is also tipped to climb sharply. West End's median unit value could reach $1.84 million, while economists warn that such growth would come at a high cost to housing affordability. The projections assume historical trends continue and are not guaranteed forecasts.
