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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

National Construction Code 2025 (NCC 2025)

HIA's significant advocacy push resulted in numerous improvements and concessions to the latest edition of the National Construction Code.

Visit our NCC 2025 hub for the latest updates, resources and adoption dates across states and territories to stay compliant.

Learn more

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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30 Jul
EIE – Standard and model conditions of consent

HIA commented on the Explanation of Intended Effect for Standard and model conditions of consent (the EIE). It is understood the EIE explains the proposed amendments to State Environmental Planning Policy 2021 that will give effect to consistent conditions of consent for residential development across the state.

29 Jul
Improving development assessment – Discussion paper

HIA supports the measures proposed in the discussion paper to enable consent authorities to assess development applications (DAs) more efficiently and consistently, and to reduce the escalating requests for further information from applicants.

28 Jul
Statutory Review of Industrial Manslaughter Offence

HIA provided feedback in response to the statutory review of the industrial manslaughter provisions that were introduced to the Work Health and Safety Act (2011) (WHS Act) in 2024.

28 Jul
QLD Building & Construction Code – Counsel Assisting's further submissions and draft implementation guidelines

HIA has provided a further response in relation to the Commission of Inquiry into the CFMEU and Misconduct in the Construction Industry and the proposed draft Qld Building Code of Practice and introduction of an Independent Regulator.

Industry updates

Building approvals Building developments Construction Low rise construction Medium rise construction Planning Residential
Tasmanian home approvals lift but still short of whats needed
Home building approvals in Tasmania have climbed over the past year, though the numbers remain well below the level needed to meet demand.
Jul 26
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Building approvals Building developments Construction Development Approval (DA) Renovations Residential Low rise construction Medium rise construction
Solid apartment approvals fail to reverse housing slowdown in ACT
The latest building approvals data shows the ACT residential building market remains subdued, with detached housing continuing to struggle and the momentum that emerged in the apartment market during 2025 now showing signs of fadi...
Jul 26
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Affordable Building approvals Construction Residential Tax
Detached house approvals 7 per cent higher in 2025/26
“Building approvals for new houses in the month of June 2026 increased to its highest level since August 2021,” stated HIA Chief Economist Tim Reardon
Jul 26
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Vale Bill Evans
The Housing Industry Association is deeply saddened by the passing of former Chief Economist of Westpac Bank, Bill Evans.
Jul 26
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Building approvals Business operations Contractors Construction Planning Regulations Residential Small business Tax
HIA calls on Treasurer to task Productivity Commission with IR laws review
Statement by Jocelyn Martin, Managing Director, Housing Industry Association
Jul 26
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Business operations Construction Budget Federal government Regulations Residential Tax
Industry Pulse survey– 2026/27 Federal Budget
This year’s Federal Budget has seen some of the biggest changes to the Australian taxation system with regard to property investors and construction in decades.
Jul 26
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Compliance Construction Falls from heights Regulations Residential Safety Work Health and Safety (WHS)
SA falls behind NT in recent red tape reduction
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) welcomes the recent changes to the workplace health and safety laws in the Northern Territory as a practical step towards reducing red tape and letting builders get on with delivering much ne...
Jul 26
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Apprentice Construction Education Staffing
Trade apprentices are starting and finishing but more still needed
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has welcomed new National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) figures showing more trade apprentices are completing their qualifications, saying the results are another encouragi...
Jul 26
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Affordable Building developments Construction Planning Regulations Residential
New Premier urged to back Victorian builders and prioritise housing supply
HIA congratulates Ben Carroll on becoming Victoria's new Premier and looks forward to working constructively with his Government to increase housing supply, support industry confidence and deliver the homes Victorians need.
Jul 26
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Affordable Building developments Building approvals Construction Development Approval (DA) Low rise construction Medium rise construction Planning Residential
Productivity Commission endorses key HIA housing supply reforms
The Productivity Commission (PC) has released its Interim Report into Housing Supply Regulation, providing strong independent support for reforms to improve housing supply, affordability and construction productivity across Austra...
Jul 26
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Construction Planning Plumbing Licence Regulations Residential
Productivity Commission backs cutting regulatory red tape while CBOS is keeping it
A Tasmanian Government promise to cut plumbing red tape is being watered down by its own agency, the Housing Industry Association has warned, just as the Productivity Commission calls for exactly the kind of cut the Government com...
Jul 26
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Building approvals Building developments Construction Planning Regulations Residential
HIA welcomes planning reforms to help unlock housing supply
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has welcomed the State Government’s latest package of planning reforms, saying the measures will help reduce delays, improve certainty and support the delivery of more housing across Western ...
Jul 26
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