The Senate’s interim report on the National Construction Code proposes a leaner set of rules focused on basic safety and performance, prompting a mixed response from the building sector.
Senate Report Calls for a Simpler Building Framework
The select committee on productivity released an interim analysis recommending that the sprawling regulation be trimmed to a concise Australian standard and a national pattern book of pre‑approved designs. The aim is to make modular and prefabricated housing more affordable, according to the committee’s findings.
Committee chair Andrew Bragg told reporters at the National Press Club that the current system makes “cheap house” construction illegal. He argued that a housing boom cannot happen under the existing framework, which now stretches over 2,000 pages.
Bragg suggested a return to an 80‑page document, saying the lengthy text adds unnecessary cost and complexity.
Industry Leaders React to Proposed Changes
Denita Wawn, chief executive of Master Builders Australia, said the regulation “is no longer fit for purpose” and adds thousands of dollars to projects. She welcomed the push to focus on minimum safety and performance, and also supported the call for procurement policies that avoid favoring union‑backed agreements.
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Simon Croft, head of the Housing Industry Association, described the needed overhaul as a “knock‑down rebuild,” not a wholesale removal of safety standards. He warned against discarding the technical foundations that protect structural integrity.
He noted that the federal pause on major changes creates an opportunity to reset the framework.
Political and Technical Concerns Remain
Wayne Liddy, president of the Australian Institute of Building Surveyors, argued that reducing the page count would overlook the diverse environments in which Australians build—from alpine to tropical zones. He emphasized that it supports complex structures such as apartments, data centres, and hospitals.
Liddy agreed that state‑level variations add unnecessary layers, and called for a single set of technical requirements nationwide, saying fragmentation hinders scale.
David Wagner, national president of the Australian Institute of Architects, cautioned that removing performance‑based clauses could slow permit approvals and raise costs.
