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Event: How to tackle Sydney’s housing crisis

How to tackle Sydney’s housing crisis

  • Date
    Wednesday 25 February 2026
  • Time
    12.00pm to 1.00pm
  • Location
    State Library of NSW
Register here
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Sydney claims to be the beating heart of Australia. But while it’s home to some of Australia’s most iconic beaches, buildings, and businesses, Sydney falls short on the metric that matters most: housing its people.

In 2019, the average home in Sydney cost $197,000 more than in Melbourne. Now it costs $640,000 more. Young people are leaving the city, and inner-city suburbs are ageing rapidly.

Political leaders are onto the problem. Premier Chris Minns has introduced the most ambitious reforms to improve housing affordability that NSW has seen in a generation. And the new Opposition Leader, Kellie Sloane, has nominated tackling the housing crisis as one of her first priorities.

But the scale of the problem means more is needed. Sydney already lays claim to being Australia’s best city. It should strive to be its most affordable as well.

Join us for this special in-person event on Sydney’s housing crisis. Grattan Institute housing expert Matthew Bowes will present recent findings on the state of planning reform in Sydney and future reform priorities, and then be joined for a panel discussion by Melissa Neighbour and Daniel Dwyer, moderated by Brendan Coates.

Please note, this event has passed.

Read the findings and download the presentation pack here.

Event details

Date: Wednesday 25 February

Time: Noon – 1pm AEDT

Location: Dixson Room, Mitchell Building, State Library of New South Wales, 1 Shakespeare Place, Sydney

Directions

The Dixson Room is located on the ground floor of the Mitchell Building. This entry is wheelchair accessible. 

Please email us at events@grattaninstitute.edu.au if you have any accessibility questions. 

Filming and photography

This event may be photographed, filmed, or recorded for use in Grattan Institute’s publications or promotional activities. Attendees will not be individually identified. Please advise us if you do not wish your image or voice to be recorded. For further information please email us at events@grattaninstitute.edu.au.

We are looking forward to an invigorating discussion and hope you will join us.

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Panel

Brendan Coates

Speaker

Brendan is the Housing and Economic Security Program Director at Grattan Institute, where he leads Grattan’s work on housing, retirement incomes, and superannuation.

He is a former macro-financial economist with the World Bank in Indonesia and consulted to the Bank in Latin America. Prior to that, he worked in the Australian Treasury in areas such as tax-transfer system reform and macro-economic forecasting, with a strong focus on the Chinese economy.

Brendan holds a Masters of International Development Economics from the Australian National University and Bachelors of Commerce and Arts from the University of Melbourne.

Owain Emslie

Speaker

Owain Emslie is a Senior Associate in Grattan’s Disability Program. At Grattan, he has co-authored reports on such topics as transport infrastructure procurement, female workforce participation, parental leave, retirement incomes, intergenerational wealth, student progress, and chronic disease prevention.

Owain has previously held various roles in the Victorian Public Service, working on gender responsive budgeting, revenue, and VET policy. Prior to that, he worked as an actuary in general insurance at IAG. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Science from the University of Melbourne. He has also completed professional qualifications as an actuary.

Melissa Neighbour

Speaker

Melissa is the Owner and Principal Planner at Sky Planning. Melissa has more than 20 years’ experience in the planning and property industry. Her background spans across all areas of property, including commercial, industrial, and residential.

Melissa works closely with developers through all phases of the development process, beginning with property potential analysis to development application stage, right through to construction certificate, occupation certificate, and subdivision certificate stages.

Daniel Dwyer

Speaker

Daniel is a non-executive director and board member. His executive experience includes roles as chief executive officer, group executive, general counsel, and company secretary across a range of not-for-profit and private organisations.

He is currently a Non-Executive Director of the Ford Land group of companies and Chair of the Cambooya Property Investment Committee for Cambooya Pty Ltd. Daniel has had previous experience as a non-executive director and chairperson in the not-for-profit sector, including Nightingale Housing.