The Housing Industry Association (HIA) joined senior leaders in Hobart today for a tripartite Tasmanian economic roundtable aimed at unlocking productivity across a range of Tasmanian industry sectors, with building and construction heavily featured.
Thursday, 07th August 2025
The roundtable hosted by the Hon Julie Collins, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Senator Richard Dowling alongside their Tasmanian based Federal parliamentary colleagues, forms part of a national series of roundtables feeding into the Albanese Government’s second-term economic and productivity agenda.
“HIA welcomed the structure and focus of the roundtable that also presented an opportunity to provide a unique Tasmanian perspective on productivity challenges with Tasmania lagging behind on many metrics,” HIA Senior Executive Director Compliance and Workplace Services, Stuart Collins said today.
“The roundtable represented an important step in aligning government and industry efforts around practical reform which will improve productivity and lead to more homes being built in Tasmania, and as part of the national effort.
“We’ve consistently said that duplicative and inconsistent regulation adds unnecessary time and cost to housing projects.
“Innovation in residential construction is also essential to lifting productivity in the sector. This goes beyond modular housing and embraces the use of digital tools across our regulators.
“The industry is facing a chronic shortage of skilled trades. We are asking the Government to support employers to take on and train apprentices, more support for programs in schools and improvements to the visa system.
“It will also be important for the federal government to work with Tasmania to accomplish good productivity outcomes, with many of the specific State issues identified at the roundtable cutting across different levels of government.
The convening of a roundtable in Tasmania recognises the need for a collaborative approach between federal and state governments, and demonstrates a strong commitment from the federal government to achieve real productivity gains for the Apple Isle,” concluded Mr Collins.
For more information please contact:
Stuart Collins
Senior Executive Director Compliance and Workplace Relations