Government must focus on housing: industry

A major housing group says the elected federal government must focus on home building to retain the nation's coveted triple-A rating, including making a housing minister a senior role.

Global rating agency Standard & Poor's put Australia on notice last week, saying it might lose its top tier rating in the next couple of years, but Housing Industry Association chief economist Harley Dale says this can be defended by promoting a focus on housing.

"Rating agencies and organisations like the IMF are watching our economy closely, particularly housing, and are clearly looking for economic focus, leadership and policy reform," Mr Dale said in statement on Sunday.