The Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) congratulates the Federal Government and Building Ministers on today’s announcement to pause cost-increasing changes to the National Construction Code (NCC) for housing, until at least late 2029.
UDIA National President, Oscar Stanley, said the decision delivered a much-needed reprieve for the housing industry amid ongoing affordability and supply challenges.
Key outcomes from today’s meeting of Building Ministers include:
- No cost-increasing NCC changes for housing in the 2025 amendments, with only safety-related issues will be included
- NCC amendments for 2025 limited to commercial buildings; and,
- A four-year pause on further NCC changes affecting housing, allowing industry to stabilise and absorb the cost impacts of previous reforms
“We are pleased that the Albanese Government has listened to the concerns of industry on the mounting cost of NCC reform which adds tens of thousands of dollars to new house prices and holds back innovation,” Mr Stanley said.
A full review of the NCC development process will:
- Reduce regulatory burden on the building and construction industry
- Remove barriers to modern construction methods; and,
- Improve how provisions are developed by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB), including the cadence of future updates.
“Pausing the Code gives industry the opportunity to concentrate on what matters most — improving construction efficiency and driving innovation. By reducing regulatory uncertainty, this decision will help industry deliver more homes, more affordably, and more quickly,” Mr Stanley added.
“The Government is now well positioned to use these four years to invest in enabling infrastructure as an essential pillar of building homes faster. “We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with the Federal Government to ensure these measures deliver more homes for all Australians.”