"cut" red tape to improve housingsupply.
Firstly, a pause in National Construction Code (NCC) changes was announced by Clare O'Neil. The last round was finalised in 2022 (implemented 2024), and the next revision was originally due this year based on a 3-year cycle.
NCC2022 changes predominantly comprised moving to 7-star energy ratings and increasing accessibility requirements. These were estimated to cost home buyers an extra $15k and $30k+ – on top of already rapidly escalating #building costs. There are lots of other small details that also created a suite of design annoyances for builders.
The construction industry warned about the negative impacts on new housing supply, and this has certainly come true based on the data.
🗣️I was involved in National Building Minister discussions in 2023 where the focus was already on the next NCC update before NCC2022 impacts had even been felt.
#Construction and #development #industry groups warned of buyer impacts, with the rapid review cycle leading to design bottlenecks and supply chain imposts.
It's fair to say the response at the time was highly unsympathetic from the State and Federal politicians in the room. It's one thing to say that things should continually improve with respect to new housing quality and efficiency, but it's not OK to pretend it won't make it more expensive for new home buyers or impact the quantity of housing being built.
🤔Current circumstances mean this is the right decision to make, but can someone tell me when a "pause" on more red tape became a cut?
The other announcement was fast-tracking environmental approvals under the EPBC Act, currently holding up tens of thousands of homes around the country. We have been hearing about "streamlining" EPBC approvals since the 2020 Samuel Review (under the former Federal Government); 5.5 years later, and 3.5 years into the current government, it might actually start to happen.
❓The point is that all of these necessary things have been advocated for by UDIA National , Property Council of Australia and Housing Industry Association (HIA) for years. Why must things reach beyond crisis point before the experts – the ones that actually build stuff – are listened to?