MEDIA RELEASE
30 September 2015	Embargoed: 11.30 am (Canberra time)	108/2015

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Building Approvals data shows that the number of dwellings approved fell 0.7 per cent in August 2015, in trend terms, and has fallen for five months.

Dwelling approvals decreased in August in Tasmania (6.8 per cent), Victoria (4.2 per cent), Western Australia (1.8 per cent), Northern Territory (0.6 per cent) and Queensland (0.2 per cent) but increased in the Australian Capital Territory (8.1 per cent), South Australia (4.5 per cent) and New South Wales (1.4 per cent) in trend terms.

In trend terms, approvals for private sector houses fell 0.1 per cent in August. Private sector house approvals rose in Queensland (2.0 per cent), New South Wales (0.4 per cent) and South Australia (0.2 per cent) but fell in Western Australia (2.8 per cent). Private house approvals were flat in Victoria, in trend terms.

The value of total building approved rose 0.8 per cent in August, in trend terms, and has risen for four months. The value of residential building rose 0.2 per cent while non-residential building rose 2.1 per cent in trend terms.

Further information is available in Building Approvals, Australia (cat no. 8731.0) on the ABS website at www.abs.gov.au

Media note:

• When reporting ABS data you must attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) as the source.
• Media requests and interviews - contact the ABS Communications Section on 1300 175 070.