Attributable to David Wagner, National President, Australian Institute of Architects:
We note the Opposition spokesperson's comments on the National Construction Code and their proposal to reform the Code.
The Institute does support efforts to modernise and simplify the National Construction Code. For example, our members tell us that the reliance of the Code on preparing performance-based solutions to address an absence of deemed-to-comply clauses makes satisfying the Code and achieving a building permit slower and more costly - something that inevitably impacts the amount in which we can build.
But we don't believe a wholesale slashing of the Code in the way that's proposed is the way to do it. The Code is a set of minimum standards and we've consistently said they should be strengthened, not weakened.
In particular we caution against changes that would see things like energy efficiency or accessibility reduced to "optional extras". Energy efficiency is not an optional extra, it can be the difference between whether someone on a low income can afford to heat their house or not in winter. Accessibility is not an optional extra, it's crucial for supporting an ageing population and people with disability.
The National Construction Code is a critical national framework to support emissions reduction, construction productivity, safety and long-term climate resilience. It can definitely be improved, simplified, and made more usable, but not at the expense of minimum standards that ensure Australians have houses that are safe, secure, and liveable.
