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Advocacy

Advocacy

HIA speaks for our national membership across all levels of government. We collaborate with our Australia-wide network of regional representatives to present an informed and united front on the issues that affect you and your business.

What matters to our members

HIA is across the most critical issues affecting residential housing in Australia - right now and in the future. Our five-year strategic plan is about addressing all of these, head-on. Our representatives are heavily involved in committees that cover all these key areas. We are dedicated to ensuring our members’ voices are heard when it counts.

house & building

Housing matters

Supporting the Housing Accord commitment to build 1.2million homes over five years and to ensure there is fair and equitable policy and tax reform for the industry to thrive and grow.

landmark

Affordability

Increase home ownership by removing unnecessary taxes and charges on housing, simplify planning rules, and help more Australians own their own home sooner.

briefcase

Quality & compliance

Ensure home building rules are cost effective, achievable and proportional. Limit the impacts of major changes like those to NCC, WHS, building regulatory systems and sustainability reforms.

business

Let business do business

Navigate changes to rules and regulations, prohibitions on goods and services and highlight materials, labour and skilled worker shortages with a "do no harm" approach.

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What we do

It is important to approach government and industry regulators with a solid understanding of the biggest challenges we face. HIA experts work hard to develop qualitative and quantitative research and create powerful and data-driven campaigns that demonstrate why change is necessary.

Explore some of our high-profile endeavours

Modernising The NCC

The National Construction Code needs to be knocked down and rebuilt from the ground up. HIA has put together a significant suite of transformational recommendations to make compliance easier for residential building professionals.

Explore the regulatory changes we believe will help drive up housing supply and increase affordability for all Australians.

Learn more

NCC 2025

Access HIA’s extensive resource library covering Australian Standards, the latest regulatory updates, adoption dates and how to comply.

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Small Business Conditions Survey

Residential building industry small businesses are resilient but facing significant challenges. Here's how they're faring in 2026.

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HIA Planning Blueprint Scorecard

HIA's Planning Blueprint Scorecard grades the planning system of each state and outlines key areas of improvement to achieve the Accord target of 1.2 million homes.

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Housing the Regions

Australians are moving to regional centres. Here's how we can help them build more homes and strengthen their communities.

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One House, One Approval

A refreshed and simplified pathway to deliver one approval for the construction of a single house on a block of land zoned for housing.

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Taxation's major impact on housing

HIA engaged the Centre for International Economics (the CIE) to undertake a review of taxes, fees and charges on new housing and apartments.

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Missing Middle Housing Report

We must explore gentle density housing solutions including more townhouses, micro-lot houses and triplexes in existing populated areas. Review the report.

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All Hands on Deck: Construction workforce requirements report

Trade shortages loom as a major threat to the Housing Accord’s target of building 1.2 million homes over the next five years.

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Pre-fab and modular construction

HIA's final report identifies the regulatory barriers for off-site construction in housing. These barriers can be time consuming and costly, resulting in inconsistent outcomes for industry and consumers.

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Ban on engineered stone

Our expert guidance on how to understand the engineered stone ban and minimise the health risks of silicosis. Learn more about how we’ve helped the industry deal with this huge regulatory change.

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The changing voice of the construction industry

The construction industry has become more culturally and linguistically diverse. However, the industry is still lagging other industry sectors when it comes to attracting skilled migrants.

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NCC 2022 changes

We’ve been working hard for our members to minimise the outcome of NCC 2022 changes that have impacted the residential building industry. Explore the latest changes and updates to the National Construction Code.

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How it works

Your voice, heard

Our service committees consult with members in their region about their evolving challenges and opportunities from the frontlines of the industry - what's really going on, on-site and beyond.

Our priorities, aligned

Local representatives join forces at the HIA National Policy Congress and work together to reach common ground so HIA can approach government and regulators from a position of power.

Expert research and development

HIA experts collate national data from our members, conduct research, and lead investigations into the factors contributing to what needs to be addressed, strengthening our stance.

Present to government

We present formal submissions on issues including the Budget, workplace diversity, migration, sustainability, new planning and approval rules, and much more.

The ultimate goal of HIA's advocacy is to initiate meaningful change on behalf of our members. We advocate for significant government policy and regulation amendments that benefit you as part of the residential building industry.

How the National Policy Congress represents you

Our national committees communicate their region's position on building industry issues at HIA's National Policy Congress (NPC). This annual event brings the Association's industry leaders together to create better outcomes for our members and set the direction of HIA's advocacy going forward. 

We develop position (policy) statements from these robust NPC discussions that represent our members' majority outlook on Australian building regulations, home ownership, business compliance and operations, and emerging key policy issues.

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What we present to government

HIA's latest responses to government policy around the housing industry, plus the latest news and economic forecasts for the sector. We submit these consistently throughout the year, ahead of and in response to what’s happening everywhere across Australia, from the regions to the highest level of government.

Latest submissions
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21 Oct
Secure Australian Jobs Framework

Residential building and its associated supply chains should remain exempt from the Framework and any related procurement obligations. Government efforts would be better directed towards improving productivity, reducing unnecessary regulatory burden, strengthening enforcement of existing workplace laws and supporting practical workforce initiatives that increase housing supply and workforce capacity.

21 Oct
Potential Commonwealth Standards for the Construction Industry

HIA strongly supports a construction industry that is lawful, safe, productive and sustainable, and has consistently called for genuine structural reform to achieve it. As framed, this consultation proposes a number of concerning elements that HIA cannot support.

15 Oct
Consultation Draft National Silica-Related Diseases Research Strategy

HIA provided a response to the Consultation Draft National Silica-Related Diseases Research Strategy.

12 Oct
Implementing carpentry registration and licensing Consultation Paper

Imposing registration and licensing on trades represents a significant impost, further degrading the capacity to deliver homes and other domestic building work. This submission, therefore, is not limited to responding to the Consultation Paper, rather, it addresses more broadly the significant risks that imposing registration and licensing on trades will have on the sector.

Industry updates

Apprentice Bathroom Kitchens Outdoor Renovations Residential Trends
Housing industry's best set to shine at Parliament House
The region's finest in residential building and renovation will be recognised tomorrow night as the 2026 HIA-CSR ACT and Southern NSW Housing, Kitchen & Bathroom Awards are held at Parliament House in Canberra.
Oct 26
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Construction Compliance Disputes Regulations Residential
Construction needs an effective enforcer not a paperwork obsession
HIA warns that proposed national construction standards and new procurement rules miss the mark and land hardest on home builders.
Oct 26
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Apprentice Construction Contractors Residential
Trades shortages persist as work on the ground remains solid
“Skilled trade shortages remain widespread across Australia, with demand for workers supported by the recovery in home building activity over the past year,” stated HIA Senior Economist Tom Devitt.
Oct 26
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Building approvals Construction Low rise construction Medium rise construction Planning Residential
Planning reforms welcome step forward for housing supply
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has welcomed the passage of the ACT Government’s latest planning legislation, saying the reforms will help reduce delays, streamline approvals and support the delivery of more homes across Ca...
Oct 26
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Building developments Building approvals Construction Development Approval (DA) Environment Residential VicElection2026
HIA welcomes joint commitment to support 66000 new homes across Victoria
“The Housing Industry Association (HIA) welcomes the Commonwealth and Victorian Government’s joint funding agreement to commit nearly $3 billion to support the delivery of more than 66,000 new homes, including 25,000 for first hom...
Oct 26
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Applications open for Queensland's $2.4 billion Infrastructure Activation Fund
The Queensland and Australian Governments have officially opened applications for the new $2.4 billion Infrastructure Activation Fund (IAF), providing grant funding and interest-free loans to help deliver the critical infrastructu...
Oct 26
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Building developments Construction Environment Residential Stormwater
HIA welcomes $2.4 billion infrastructure fund to unlock new Queensland housing
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has welcomed the launch of applications for Queensland's new $2.4 billion Infrastructure Activation Fund, describing it as a significant step towards unlocking more housing supply and support...
Oct 26
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Building developments Construction Development Approval (DA) Planning
Time for the Government to get moving on DAPS data centres make the need urgent
The Housing Industry Association of Tasmania has urged the State Government to urgently progress their promised Development Assessment Panels, arguing the need has been made more urgent by the debate over the approval processes fo...
Oct 26
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Awards Communication Networking
HIA Hunter Housing Awards Winners Announced
Paterson Builders has claimed the pinnacle award at the 2026 HIA Hunter Housing and Kitchen & Bathroom Awards, receiving the HIA Hunter Home of the Year award for an outstanding custom-built home on the Central Coast.
Oct 26
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Azura sweeps 2026 HIA awards as Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay Home of the Year
Tyson Building Group's Azura claimed Home of the Year and six additional awards at the 2026 HIA Sunshine Coast & Wide Bay Housing and Kitchen & Bathroom Awards.
Oct 26
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Affordable Building approvals Construction Residential
New home sales in Victoria remain depressed
“New home sales in Victoria dropped by 23.3 per cent in the September quarter 2026, reversing the hopeful improvement that was underway earlier in the year and returning to their depressed 2023-2024 levels,” stated HIA Executive D...
Oct 26
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Building approvals Construction Affordable Residential
New home sales slump
“New home sales fell by 17.5 per cent in the September quarter 2026, reversing the recovery that commenced in 2025,” stated HIA Chief Economist, Tim Reardon.
Oct 26
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