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{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change locationHIA's industry leaders come together on major housing issues
HIA's industry leaders come together on major housing issues
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Simon Croft
Chief Executive, Industry & Policy
HIA’s National Board of Directors, Regional Committee Chairs and Senior HIA figures recently came together in Brisbane to debate key issues facing the industry. They also helped the Association set the housing agenda as we headed into this year’s federal election and as we place ourselves to work with the returned ALP Government over the next 3 years.
A theme arising from these meetings acknowledged that the policy landscape for our industry has never been more complex or disjointed across governments. Builders across the country are feeling swamped by the burden of more red tape.
The message was that industry wants to see a pause on further regulatory change for the immediate future to enable them to get on with running their businesses and delivering on the government’s increased housing targets.
A strong industry voice
HIA annually convenes a meeting of the heads of all our Regional Committees across building policy, industrial relations and legal, compliance, safety, planning and development, training and skills, kitchen and bathrooms, membership and a manufacturers council.
These committees are joined by HIA’s National Board of Directors and senior HIA staff with the purpose to bring together our industry leaders to review HIA’s position statements and discuss key issues the industry and members are facing.
These meetings ensure the advocacy strategies of the Association are aligned with industry. The collective voice of each of these committees is a powerful tool for HIA to use to represent our members.
Key topics debated
Not surprisingly, with the plethora of ‘housing promises’ that were rolled out from all major parties, these issues during the election and – what’s missing from these announcements – were hotly debated.
Each of the respective HIA committees discussed the relevant policy commitments and what this may mean for their businesses and the broader industry.
The meetings were timely, given the recent federal budget being handed down, as was the Opposition’s budget in reply, and the ongoing global implications of Donald Trump’s pro-America policy agenda.
Local issues included ongoing concerns on the application, impact and complexity of NCC 2022, which will be further compounded by the impending finalisation of NCC 2025. This continues to be front of mind for members and their clients.
Equally, silica and broader WHS reforms – and the added complexity and lack of clarity –have added further undue pressures on businesses.
The need for comprehensive planning reforms rather than just states and territories tinkering around the edges was discussed. As was the risk of reactive responses from governments in blocking new land releases or adding more layers and complications for approvals was front of mind off the back of recent natural disasters.
In a broader context, the increasing red tape and the impact on businesses, as well as the need for comprehensive whole-of-government reforms to deliver on housing targets, were discussed.
Access to skilled labour – bringing in more as well as retaining apprentices – was acknowledged as a universal problem, as was local and state territory planning regimes for the timely delivery of more homes.
The message was that the industry wants to see a pause on further regulatory change for the immediate future to enable them to get on with running their businesses and delivering on the government’s increased housing targets.
Ramping it up
HIA will continue to raise the profile of these issues as well as countering the negative media and government sentiment towards our industry, and the impact this is having on individuals as well as homeowner/consumer confidence.
If the government is serious about its target of 1.2 million homes over the next five years, they need to maintain our current workforce, as well as attracting more skilled workers and new entrants into our industry.
To do so, they must subscribe to a buoyant and flourishing industry which contributes significantly to the economy.
Further, the government must recognise the impact that the continual introduction of more reforms, increased complexity and additional costs to the construction of homes is having on our industry. If this continues, the 1.2 million homes is a pipe dream.
First published 13 May 2025