Building Policy
HIA members deal with a broad range of technical issues relating to the Building Code of Australia (BCA), Australian Standards, State and Local government building regulations.
Some of the major building policy issues facing the housing industry today include:
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Accessibility and adaptability in new housing
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Improving the performance of existing housing
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National consistency in building regulations between Commonwealth, States and Local governments
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Certification of building products to meet technical standards
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The proliferation of unreferenced standards
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Improving building approvals and certification systems in local government
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Registration of building certifiers and other professionals
HIA’s National Policy Congress has endorsed a series of building policies which assist in HIA’s responses to Federal, State and local government on all of these issues and more.
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Current at: 19 November 2008
Senate Inquiry - Home Warranty Insurance Scheme
The Senate has handed its Report which endorses the retention of the current private sector Home Warranty Insurance arrangements in Australia. Many of HIA’s suggestions were expressly acknowledged and adopted by the Committee.
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Current at: 10 November 2008
Major review of ABCB agreement to look at new national construction code
The Council of Australian Governments agreed at in July to start an early review of the intergovernmental agreement between the Commonwealth, States and Territories, which underpins the ABCB. The current agreement runs until 2011.
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Current at: 10 November 2008
Study proves council variations add to the cost of housing
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has recently released a study which looked at the cost impacts on housing affordability due to local councils increasing building standards through planning codes.
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Current at: 08 October 2008
Carbon pollution reduction scheme - where is it at?
The release of the Green Paper – Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) in July provided the first look at the possible design of an Australian emissions trading scheme. Now the Garnaut Climate Change Review has released its report addressing the possible targets to cap total greenhouse emissions and achieve the intended 60 per cent reduction in emissions based on 2000 levels, by 2050. The Garnaut report proposes a permit price and looks at the impact of this on the Australian economy.
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Current at: 19 December 2007
Accessibility in Residential Buildings
This policy highlights HIA’s opposition to government introducing regulations for accessible and/or adaptable housing, whether by Federal, state or local governments. The policy highlights that there are practical and cost effective measures governments should take to promote housing designs for all stages of life.
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Current at: 19 December 2007
Australian Standards
This policy sets out HIA’s position on the development of Australian Standards by Standards Australia and HIA’s involvement in the development of those standards. The policy also sets out HIA’s position on the regulatory scrutiny that standards should undergo and the need to limit the development and adoption of standards which are not called up by the BCA.
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Current at: 19 December 2007
Australian Building Codes Board and the Building Code of Australia
This policy sets out HIA’s position on the role of the Australian Building Codes Board and HIA’s direct involvement in the work program of the ABCB. The policy also addresses HIA’s position on the national Building Code of Australia, its development process and the impact on the housing industry.
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