MEDIA RELEASE
February 3, 2011	Embargo: 11.30 am (Canberra time)	12/2011

ABS Building Approvals show that the total number of dwellings approved rose 8.7% in December 2010, in seasonally adjusted terms, after falling 3.9% in November.

According to the ABS, New South Wales (16.7%), Victoria (11.4%), South Australia (1.1%) and Tasmania (9.9%) recorded more dwelling approvals this month while Queensland (-5.7%) and Western Australia (-4.2%) recorded fewer dwelling approvals in seasonally adjusted terms.

Private sector houses approved were flat in December with falls in South Australia (-11.2%) and Queensland (-0.2%) and increases in New South Wales (0.4%), Victoria (2.1%) and Western Australia (0.8%).

The value of total building approved rose 8.3% in December in seasonally adjusted terms. The value of total residential building rose by 5.7% while non-residential building rose by 13.1%.

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

Media Note: Please ensure when reporting on ABS data that you attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) as the source.