{{ propApi.searchIcon }}
{{ propApi.closeIcon }}
Our industry
Our industry $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Housing industry insights Economics Insights Data & forecasts Tailored research & analysis Advocacy & policy Advocacy Policy priorities Position statements Submissions News & inspiration Industry news Member alerts Media releases HOUSING Online
Business support
Business support $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
For your business Contracts Online Safety systems & solutions Advertise jobs HIA SafeScan Member perks Toyota vehicles The Good Guys Commercial Ampol fuel savings See all Industry insurance HIA Insurance Services Construction works insurance Home warranty insurance Tradies & tool insurance Apprentices Why host a HIA apprentice? Hire an apprentice Support & guidance Contracts & compliance support Building & planning services
Resources & advice
Resources & advice $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Building it right Building codes National Construction Code Australian standards Getting it right on site See all Building materials & products Concrete, bricks & walls Getting products approved Use the right products for the job See all Managing your business Dealing with contracts Handling disputes Managing your employees See all Managing your safety Safety rules Working with silica See all Building your business Growing your business Communication for your business See all Other subjects Getting approval to build Sustainable homes See all
Careers & learning
Careers & learning $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
A rewarding career Become an apprentice Apprenticeships on offer How do I apply? Frequently asked questions Study with us Find a course to suit you Qualification courses Learning on demand Professional development courses A job in the industry Get your builder's licence Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Further your career
HIA community
HIA community $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Join HIA Sign me up How do I become a member? What's in it for me? Mates rates Our podcasts Made To Build Built Different HIA Building Australia Building the Hunter Our initiatives HIA Building Women GreenSmart Kitchen, bathroom & design hub Get involved Become an award judge Join a committee Partner with us Support for you Charitable Foundation Mental health program Get to know us Our members Our people
Awards & events
Awards & events $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Awards Awards program People & Business Awards GreenSmart Australian Housing Awards Awards winners Regional Award winners Australian Housing Award winners 2026 Australian Home of the Year Enter online Industry events Events in the next month Economic outlook National Conference Events calendar
HIA shop
HIA shop $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Most popular products National Construction Code Vol 1 & 2 Waterproofing wet areas AS 3740:2021 HIA Guide to Waterproofing HIA Guide to NCC Livable Housing Provisions Top categories Building codes & standards Contracts & documents Guides & manuals Safety products Signage For your business Contracts Online Digital Australian Standards Digital Resource Library Forecasts & data
About Contact Newsroom
$vuetify.icons.faTimes
$vuetify.icons.faMapMarker Set my location Use the field below to update your location
Address
Change location
{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.text}} {{region}} Change location
{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change location

$vuetify.icons.faPhone1300 650 620

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.

{{ propApi.text }}
$vuetify.icons.faArrowRight

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.

Read more $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight

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.

Read more $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight

Housing the Regions

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

Read more $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight

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.

Read more $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight

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.

Read more $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight

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.

Read more $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight

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.

Read more $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight

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.

Read more $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight

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.

Read more $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight

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.

Read more $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight

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.

Read more $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight

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.

{{ propApi.text }}
$vuetify.icons.faArrowRight

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
View all $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
21 Apr
HIA submission to Water Efficient Fixtures Victorian Consultation Regulatory Impact statement

HIA does not support Victoria mandating increased water-efficiency standards for fixtures in either new or existing homes, outside of a national process and supply chains. Among first steps to obtain higher benefits are voluntarily measures to address information asymmetries. Strengthening education, promotion, and awareness campaigns through water authorities and government-led media initiatives can encourage voluntary uptake.

31 Mar
Who is going to build the Macquarie Point Stadium? A Workforce Impact Overview

This HIA workforce impact overview examines how a major, multi year infrastructure project would interact with an already constrained construction labour market. Drawing on HIA modelling, government data and industry insights, the report finds Tasmania’s construction workforce is operating close to full capacity, with limited ability to absorb additional demand without consequences for housing supply, costs and delivery timeframes.

31 Mar
Increasing Gentle Density: unlocking subdivision

Despite increased political focus on boosting the supply of new housing and the introduction of several well-intentioned initiatives, Australia continues to deliver new homes at a rate well below the Federal Government’s target of 1.2 million well-located dwellings over the five-year period from July 2024.

27 Mar
Annual Wage Review 2026

HIA has lodged its submission to the Fair Work Commission's 2026 Annual Wage Review, supporting a 3.5% increase in the national minimum award wage rates, as the maximum the residential building sector can sustainably absorb.

Industry updates

Affordable Building approvals Building developments Construction Planning Residential
Regional Housing roundtable calls for dedicated national plan
Leaders meeting at a Housing Industry Association (HIA) hosted regional housing roundtable in Nowra, have warned that current housing policy settings are failing regional communities, and are calling for a dedicated national housi...
Apr 26
Read full article $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Affordable Construction National Construction Code (NCC) National Construction Code 2025 Residential Suppliers Standards
NT government to impose more red tape on builders
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) is disappointed that the NT government has chosen to rush ahead with implementation of the latest update to the National Construction Code – NCC 2025.
Apr 26
Read full article $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Affordable Construction Planning Residential
HIA welcomes move to unlock 4,000 new homes for Tasmania
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) welcomes the Commonwealth and Tasmanian Government’s announcement of $165 million agreement to support the delivery of up to 4,000 new homes, including 2,101 exclusively for first home buyers...
Apr 26
Read full article $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Awards
Western Australian builders win national housing awards
Announced on 18 April on the Gold Coast, the 2026 HIA Australian Housing Awards saw Western Australian builders The Rural Building Co and Chris Guilbert from Tenfold Homes recognised among the nation’s best.
Apr 26
2 mins
Read full article $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Awards
Queensland builders win big at national housing awards
Queensland builders have taken top honours at the 2026 HIA Australian Housing Awards, with Gold Coast-based Mactech Constructions winning the prestigious Australian Home of the Year for their standout project, Cloudbreak.
Apr 26
2 Mins
Read full article $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Awards
South Australian builder wins national housing award
Craig Linke has won the 2026 HIA Australian Kitchen Design for a beautifully executed kitchen that blends French-inspired elegance with modern functionality.
Apr 26
2 mins
Read full article $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Awards Construction Design Innovation
Queensland home wins HIAs highest national housing award
Mactech Constructions has been named the 2026 HIA Australian Home of the Year – the highest residential building award bestowed each year by the Housing Industry Association (HIA).
Apr 26
Read full article $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Awards Construction Design Innovation
Canberra builder and architect win national housing award
PROF HOMES and Architects Ring & Associates have won the 2026 HIA Australian Display Home for a striking project in Denman Prospect. The home features a double height lounge, corner arch façade and precision structural engineering...
Apr 26
Read full article $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Awards Construction Design Innovation
Hunter builder claims national business honour
A Hunter owned and operated business has been recognised on the national stage, taking out a coveted business award at the 2026 HIA Australian Housing Awards. The Housing Industry Association (HIA) awards were announced on 18 Apri...
Apr 26
Read full article $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
National Construction Code (NCC) Standards Construction Compliance
Northern Territory to adopt NCC 2025 from 1 May 2026
The Northern Territory Government has confirmed that the National Construction Code (NCC) 2025 will apply to all building, plumbing and drainage work conducted in Building Control Areas of the Northern Territory from 1 May 2026.
Apr 26
Read full article $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Affordable Building approvals Building developments Construction Federal government Residential
HIA welcomes $250 million commitment to unlock 4,900 new homes for Canberra
“The Housing Industry Association (HIA) welcomes the joint Federal and ACT government’s commitment of $250 million to unlock up to 4,900 new homes for the ACT, including nearly 1,700 for first home buyers” HIA Managing Director, J...
Apr 26
Read full article $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Awards
NSW carpentry apprentice wins national award
NSW carpentry apprentice Sarah Starbuck was announced as Australia’s top apprentice from the past year at the 2026 HIA Australian Housing Awards, partnered by CSR, held on 18 April on the Gold Coast. The prestigious national resid...
Apr 26
Read full article $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight