Productivity Commission Inquiries

In the leadup to the Treasurer’s Economic Reform Roundtable, HIA made a suite of comprehensive submissions to the Treasurer and to the Productivity Commission who are undertaking a number of important inquiries themselves related to tax, productivity, regulation setting, skills and the government’s net zero agenda.

With the current discussion on productivity and criticisms being levelled at industry productivity, we have highlighted, through our submission and media commentary, that the process of home building is quick and efficient. Government red tape and excessive regulation have been the key reasons why it is so difficult to increase supply and industry productivity has stalled.

Our submissions highlight that the industry is weighed down by increasing taxes and regulation, skills shortages, uncertainty in policymaking and rising costs.

These all contribute to making housing less affordable to rent or buy and industry less productive due to more time navigating red tape than having nail bags on building homes.

We have recommended the Economic Reform Roundtable implements key recommendations across five core themes:

• Boost industry productivity and remove barriers to greater innovation
• Reduce the regulatory burden through building codes and planning reform
• Address the industry’s skill shortages
• Increase and encourage foreign investment and improved tax and financial systems
• Lift the capacity and resilience of small building businesses. 

Underpinning these core pillars we are seeking a suite of detailed policy reforms. Our submissions received extensive media coverage, including a number of front-page features, radio and television interviews, with more media coverage expected over the coming week.

Ministerial meetings

Before the Treasurer’s Roundtable, HIA met with the following key federal ministers and department heads to inform the agenda:

• Minister for Housing, Clare O’Neil
• Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles
• Minister for Small Business, Anne Aly
• Minister for the Environment, Murray Watt
• Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen
• Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Amanda Rishworth.

We also met with and provided our submissions to the business industry representatives attending the Treasurers Roundtable and the Opposition.

We attended Senator Matt Canavan’s ‘real productivity roundtable’ where we outlined the barriers to greater housing supply and the impact excessive regulation is having on industry productivity and chronic skills shortages.

Turning around the Titanic

The announcements over the past few weeks show some positive green shoots in governments responding to our calls to address the key issues impacting members.

But these measures are not going to turn around the Titanic. Much bolder reforms are needed across all levels and all areas of government policy settings, and HIA will continue to fight hard for members to get those broader structural issues addressed.

Want to know more about how HIA’s works to improve our industry across all levels of government? Go to Advocacy.

First published on 25 November 2025.