Building approvals fell in December, due largely to a massive decrease in Tasmania and Victoria, according to data released this week by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
The figures show that the number of dwellings approved fell 4.4 per cent in December 2012, in seasonally adjusted terms, following a rise of 3.4 per cent in the previous month.
Dwelling approvals decreased in December in Tasmania (-21.8 per cent), Victoria (-12.3 per cent) and New South Wales (-1.3 per cent) but increased Queensland (7.9 per cent), South Australia (1.7 per cent) and Western Australia (1.3 per cent).
In seasonally adjusted terms, approvals for private sector houses fell 3.3 per cent to 7,213 in December. Falls were recorded in fell in Victoria (-12.7 per cent) and Western Australia (-2.2 per cent), but figures rose in South Australia (9.0 per cent), Queensland (5.2 per cent) and New South Wales (1.2 per cent).
The trend estimate for private sector dwelling units excluding houses rose 1.8 per cent in December.
The value of residential building fell 3.0 per cent in December, in seasonally adjusted terms.