Grattan Institute's 2026 report suggests that Australia's parking minimums in new housing contribute to unnecessary costs and inefficiency. It is estimated that about 40% of apartment parking remains unused each night, which is a significant issue. The report argues that removing parking minimums could lead to lower housing costs and faster construction, potentially resulting in significant nationwide savings of around $5.2 billion over five years by preventing the construction of over 86,000 parking spots. To address the issue, the report recommends abolishing parking minimums and implementing on-street parking management, allowing cities to manage parking supply more effectively.
About 40% of parking spaces under apartments in Australia sit empty, yet strict planning rules mean more unwanted spots continue to be built
www.theguardian.comdevelopments to maximum limits on the amount of parking permitted in the City Core precinct and reduced minimum parking requirements in the City Frame precinct, to boost housing supply and affordability in well-connected areas.c This change reversed a 2019 move by the Council to increase minimum car-parking requirements for new housing developments.d
grattan.edu.au