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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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Election Imperatives

HIA sets out the key issues we believe an incoming government must address if we are to sustain the benefits of stronger new home building activity.

WA Election Priorities 2025

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Let’s Build Australia

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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

HIA Housing Policy Scoreboard 

The HIA Housing Policy Scorecard benchmarks each state’s ability to address the housing supply crisis. Discover how your state measured up.

Read more

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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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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Taxation's major impact on housing affordability

HIA commissioned The Centre for International Economics (CIE) to perform an investigation of the magnitude of statutory taxes and regulatory costs in housing costs.

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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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One house, one approval

Trying to navigate the development approval systems for housing has become a challenging process. Find out how HIA is tackling this issue by calling on all levels of government to commit to change.

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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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31 Jan
2025-2026 Pre-Budget Submission - Let's Build

HIA’s 2025-2026 Federal Pre-Budget Submission includes a comprehensive suite of measures to support the industry substantially boost the supply of housing, address the significant skills shortages hampering the industry’s capability and targeted funding to get homes shovel ready sooner.

17 Jan
Homes for NSW Plan

HIA has read with interest the Homes for NSW Discussion Paper, and particularly the intention to deliver more and better homes and develop a system that is flexible enough to respond to emerging needs and new approaches.

17 Jan
Building and Construction Industry Review Discussion Paper (SA)

HIA takes this opportunity to respond to the Building and Construction Industry Review Discussion Paper.

15 Jan
Response to the Inquiry into the Free TAFE Bill 2024

HIA provided a response to the Senate Education and Employment Committees on the inquiry into the Free TAFE Bill 2024.

Industry updates

Apprentice Affordable Budget Construction Election Federal government Planning Regulations Residential
Housing must be a national priority this Federal Election
Today HIA launched our 2025 Federal Election campaign that calls on all political parties to commit to making housing a national priority and deliver a comprehensive housing plan in support of our industry.
Feb 25
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WorkSafe ACT raises alarm over training gaps
Feb 25
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Apprentice Construction Contractors Education Election Residential
Housing Industry welcomes priority on residential construction workforce (WA)
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has welcomed today's announcement by the WA Labor Party to extend the Group Training Organisation (GTO) Wage Subsidy program, providing more opportunities for Western Australians to embark on...
Feb 25
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Affordable Apprentice Building approvals Construction Contractors Federal government Residential Tax
Interest rate cuts won’t deliver 1.2 million homes
“The RBA cut its benchmark cash rate today from 4.35 per cent to 4.1 per cent, the first cut since it first started its hiking cycle in May 2022,” stated HIA Chief Economist, Tim Reardon.
Feb 25
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Affordable Apprentice Building approvals Construction Contractors Residential Renovations
Skilled trades shortage set to worsen without policy changes
“The HIA Trades Availability Index recorded -0.47 in the December Quarter 2024, representing only a modest improvement in the availability of skilled trades in the second half of last year,” stated HIA Senior Economist Tom Devitt.
Feb 25
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Affordable Construction Residential
Lending restrictions should be eased
“Restrictions on lending have been progressively tightened over the past 15 years making it increasingly difficult for banks to lend to first home buyers. Despite this increase in lending restrictions and the cost of lending, mort...
Feb 25
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Accounting Affordable Building approvals Construction Residential
“Australia's housing crisis is driven by lip-service, hypocrisy and an investment culture”
In his article today, published on abc.net.au, Alan Kohler states: “In 1999 came the final death knell of housing as a "right", when it became an investment asset after the Howard government halved capital gains tax.”
Feb 25
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Building approvals Construction Development Approval (DA) Licence Low rise construction Medium rise construction National Construction Code 2022 Planning Residential
'Building Reg Reno' - a small step in the right direction (Qld)
HIA Queensland Executive Director Michael Roberts attended an event this morning to hear the announcement by Queensland Housing Minister, Sam O’Connor, about the Crisafulli Government's initial steps toward reducing red tape for t...
Feb 25
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Building developments Construction Development Approval (DA) Medium rise construction Low rise construction Planning Residential
HIA welcomes small steps toward more homes in Queensland
“The Queensland Housing Minister’s 'Building Reg Reno' announcement today represent small steps toward a business environment that will support building more homes in our state, but there are many more small steps that will need t...
Feb 25
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Notice of Annual Regional Meeting of Members - Victoria Region
Our Annual Regional Meeting of Members (ARMM) is set for 27 February 2025 at 4:30pm, at our office in Burnley.
Feb 25
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Building developments Construction Development Approval (DA) Medium rise construction Low rise construction Planning Residential Tax
South Australia tops ranking of housing policy announcements
“Governments across the country are making announcements aimed at improving housing supply and it is challenging to determine which policies will genuinely improve housing supply from those that are disguising new taxes,” said HIA...
Feb 25
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Construction Environment Outdoor Residential Renovations Stormwater Timber
Precautions for building sites in flood affected regions of North Queensland
The severe weather event across the North Queensland east coast has seen disaster support activated for North Queensland communities by the Australian and Queensland Governments following days of relentless rain.
Feb 25
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