National housing targets are set in the millions but delivering them is more than just a numbers game. Limited land supply, lagging infrastructure, supply-chain pressures and rising compliance costs all make the task harder.

Meanwhile, extreme weather is no longer a rare disruption; it’s a recurring test. Floods, bushfires, cyclones, heatwaves, hailstorms and even the occasional earthquake are pushing planning systems, building standards and construction practices to their limits.

For the building industry, this means one thing: the homes we deliver today must not only meet demand but stand firm in a harsher, less predictable climate. 

Recently HIA appeared before the Senate Inquiry into the Climate Risk Assessment to deliver a pointed message: the federal government must take the lead on a coordinated national plan to strengthen the country’s existing housing stock, built before our current robust building codes, against a changing climate.

New homes well positioned

While new homes continue to meet ever-higher standards of safety and efficiency, millions of older dwellings are weathering storms of another kind.

These houses, built decades before climate adaptation was part of the conversation, now face increasing threats from cyclones, floods, bushfires and hail.

One framework, not many

HIA believes that the current piecemeal approaches at federal and state levels are no longer enough. Cyclones, floods, bushfires and hailstorms are not new threats, but the way we prepare for them must change.

Australia currently operates under a patchwork of rules and regulations, with states and territories applying different standards and criteria. This fragmented system leaves both homeowners and the industry exposed. A patchwork of policies won’t cut it. We need one clear, national framework to lift resilience and keep housing affordable.

Such a framework would allow for consistent standards while also reducing costs created by overlapping regulations. For homeowners, it would mean clarity on what’s required, what’s recommended, and how their properties stack up.

The case for a national risk-rating tool

Central to HIA’s submission was a call for the creation of a single, independently verified national risk-rating tool. This tool would measure the exposure of individual homes and communities to natural hazards, guiding planning decisions, informing insurers and equipping homeowners with the information they need to strengthen their properties.

It’s a simple but powerful idea. If Australians knew their home’s risk profile in the same way they understand their credit score or energy rating, they could take targeted action. Insurers could price policies more fairly, and governments could direct resources where they are most urgently needed.

Borrowing from workplace safety

Another cornerstone of HIA’s argument is the adoption of a ‘Hierarchy of Control’ model. Borrowed from workplace safety principles, this system ranks hazard control measures from the most effective to the least. By applying the model to housing, the strongest protections, like structural reinforcements, would be prioritised over less impactful measures.

It would represent a shift in thinking – from reactionary responses to long-term planning, ensuring that investments in housing upgrades deliver the maximum possible benefit.

The ticking clock of older homes

While new housing developments already meet high and continually improving standards, HIA’s focus is firmly on the country’s ageing housing stock. Between eight and 10 million dwellings fall into this category, representing the nation’s greatest vulnerability. These older homes need focused upgrades to withstand future events.

From retrofitting roofs to withstand cyclone winds, to improving insulation against extreme heat, the upgrades required vary widely. Without a clear national program, these homes will remain exposed, carrying social and financial costs each time a natural disaster strikes.

A call for leadership

HIA is calling on the federal government to set a timetable, allocate resources and work with states, territories and industry on a unified program.

Taking a steady, coordinated approach now will strengthen our homes and communities and reduce the cost and disruption of future natural disasters.

The argument is as much about economics as it is about resilience. Investing in upgrades today reduces the staggering repair bills, insurance premiums and community dislocation that follow every major disaster. 

It’s a call for leadership, planning and foresight – something that has been lacking for too long when governments work on three-year election cycles – and too often industry and homeowners bear the brunt of this lack of true leadership and planning.

For more information on this topic, visit the 2025 Future Homes Forum.

First published on 13 February 2026