As Australia works to accelerate housing delivery, the Royal Australian Institute of Architects is urging governments to ensure the next generation of homes are not just faster to build, but better to live in.
With the National Construction Code 2025 available for adoption by jurisdictions from today (1 May), National President Adam Haddow FRAIA said this is a critical opportunity to lift the quality, performance and long-term affordability of Australian housing.
"Australia is rightly focused on increasing housing supply, but supply alone is not enough," Adam Haddow said.
"The homes we build today will shape affordability, health and resilience for decades."
NCC 2025 includes important changes affecting areas such as waterproofing, condensation management and energy performance, helping support more durable, efficient and climate-responsive homes. Australian households should be able to expect these standards in new housing.
"The NCC sets the minimum standard for the homes Australians rely on every day. Getting those minimums right is essential if we want homes that are safe, comfortable and affordable to live in over time," he said.
The Institute warns that focusing on speed without performance risks locking in higher long-term costs for households and poorer outcomes for communities.
Poorly performing homes are expensive homes. They cost more to heat and cool, are harder to adapt over time, and are less resilient in a changing climate.
The Institute has also raised concern that inconsistent adoption of NCC 2025 across states and territories could undermine these improvements. Jurisdictions are already taking different approaches, with NSW and Queensland delaying commencement to 1 May 2027.
"A fragmented approach risks creating confusion, increasing costs and slowing delivery - at exactly the time we need to be building more homes, and building them well," Adam Haddow said.
"We can build more homes, and we can build them better. This is a moment to ensure Australia's housing response delivers long-term value, not short-term fixes."
The Institute will continue working with governments and industry to support high-quality, sustainable and nationally consistent building standards.
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