Released today, and the subject of Federal Housing Minister O'Neil's address to the Property Council's National Housing Solution Summit today in Melbourne, the interim report proposes to maintain performance standards, improve the usability of the National Construction Code, restore a national operating market, toughen cost-benefit analysis and reduce unnecessary compliance burdens.
Property Council Chief Executive Mike Zorbas said the report reflects long‑standing industry concerns about the cumulative burden built into the code system over time and the lack of necessary resourcing and state and territory buy in.
"We need to get this right. Australia needs strong building standards that are implemented well, implemented consistently and implemented quickly," Mr Zorbas said.
"Red tape and overlaps between governments shrink new housing supply and make new homes more costly."
"A seamless, rigorous national market that delivers sustainable, affordable projects is the holy grail."
The interim report also highlights work to remove innovation barriers including action through the National Productivity Fund to reduce red tape for prefabricated and modular construction.
Mr Zorbas said the reform directions outlined in the report provide a constructive foundation for further work ahead of a final report to Building Ministers later this year.
"This is about improving the system end‑to‑end in the name of better and more affordable housing for all Australians," he said.
"A thoughtful, evidence‑based approach to simplifying compliance is the right way, the only way to lift productivity and get more homes built sooner."
