The Albanese Government will consult on potential standards for the construction industry aimed at ensuring government financial arrangements drive quality, productivity, lawful behaviour, and deliver safe, secure, well-paid jobs.
This consultation represents the next step in implementing the National Construction Industry Forum's (NCIF) Blueprint for the Future. The NCIF is the leading national tripartite forum in the building and construction industry, bringing together government, unions and business to promote best practice, address systemic problems and drive reform to industry culture.
The consultation will complement the NCIF's development of a Joint Construction Industry Charter, which will set out shared behavioural expectations for all industry participants.
The consultation will seek views on how any standards could apply where Australian Government funding or financial arrangements support construction activity and include consideration of the following:
- how to ensure construction industry participants do not engage in unlawful or criminal behaviour, including offering, paying, soliciting or accepting bribes or inducements of any kind, and that such behaviour is reported to the Commonwealth and relevant regulators immediately
- how to ensure inappropriate "industrial fixers" or mediators who are not operating within the Fair Work Act or other relevant laws are not engaged or used
- fit and proper requirements for parties on construction projects
- ensure enterprise agreements are genuinely agreed, and workplaces are free from coercion and intimidation, and threats to coerce or intimidate
- fair, effective and timely resolution of disputes
- how to ensure an employee bargaining representative cannot dictate the choice of subcontractors used on a site
- appropriate workplace flexibilities that promote productivity and the participation of women, including access to part-time work and positive culture training.
- support for safe, secure and well‑paid jobs in the industry
- how to address over‑reliance on labour hire
- support for the engagement of apprentices
- how to ensure subcontractors and suppliers are paid on time and in full for work.
The government will also consult on how the standards could be enforced by existing regulators through a joined-up approach, and whether improvements are needed to whistleblower protections so construction industry participants feel safe to report unlawful conduct.
The government has no intention of requiring employers to enter an enterprise agreement covered by a registered employee organisation as a condition of receiving Commonwealth government funding in the construction industry. The government has no intention of replicating Queensland's former Best Practice Industry Conditions Scheme.
Consultation is expected to occur in the second half of 2026. Further information will be made available at: National Construction Industry Forum - Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Australian Government.
