Key Facts:
- Construction materials sector seeks priority status under Stage 3 of Australia's National Fuel Security Plan to protect housing and infrastructure projects
- Oxford Economics analysis shows the industry contributes over £20 billion to GDP and supports 112,000+ jobs nationwide
- Sector warns that without fuel prioritisation, construction materials will stop moving, halting project progress
- Diesel access is critical for quarrying, manufacturing and freight operations in the construction materials supply chain
- Industry is seeking formal recognition as an essential service to ensure certainty during supply disruptions
Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia (CCAA) is calling on the Federal Government to ensure the heavy construction materials sector is explicitly prioritised under any escalation to Stage 3 of Australia's National Fuel Security Plan, warning that failure to do so would put housing delivery, infrastructure projects and economic activity at immediate risk.
The call comes as National Cabinet convenes to focus on fuel security and contingency planning, including discussions on how Stage 3 settings would operate in the event of ongoing global supply disruptions.
New analysis by Oxford Economics confirms the scale of the risk, showing the cement, concrete and aggregates industry contributes more than $20 billion to GDP and supports over 112,000 jobs nationwide, underpinning Australia's $175 billion construction sector and $242 billion public infrastructure pipeline.
CCAA Chief Executive Officer Michael Kilgariff said the industry must be front and centre in any prioritisation framework.
"The heavy construction materials sector is the first link in Australia's construction supply chain. If it is not prioritised under Stage 3 settings, the consequences will be widespread across the economy," he said.
"This is not discretionary activity — this is the sector that enables every road, bridge, home and energy project in the country."
The impact is being felt through rising costs across the construction materials supply chain, with supply risks likely to follow if conditions deteriorate.
CCAA has consistently called for the sector to be formally recognised as essential under fuel prioritisation frameworks, noting that diesel access is critical across quarrying, manufacturing and freight operations.
"When fuel supply tightens, construction materials stop moving — and when materials don't move, projects don't proceed," Mr Kilgariff said.
"Stage 3 planning must reflect the operational reality of this sector and prioritise it accordingly."
CCAA has previously highlighted the need for explicit recognition of construction materials under national fuel security settings, including within critical services frameworks, to provide certainty during periods of disruption.
Mr Kilgariff said prioritising the sector is essential to maintaining momentum on national priorities.
"Housing supply, infrastructure delivery and economic productivity all depend on the reliable and continuous supply of construction materials," he said.
"Ensuring our sector is prioritised under Stage 3 is fundamental to keeping Australia building."
CCAA has been actively working with governments on fuel security, including participating in roundtables across all jurisdictions.
About us:
About CCAA CCAA is the voice of Australia's heavy construction materials industry, an industry that contributes $20.7 billion to GDP and supports 112,970 jobs nationwide. CCAA members produce most of Australia's cement, concrete and aggregates, which are essential to the nation's building and construction sectors.
