“From the ground up, Australian-made materials are an integral part of every new home build and renovation project across the country,” said Jocelyn Martin, HIA Managing Director.

“This Australian Made Week is the perfect opportunity to recognise Australia’s manufacturing capability and celebrate Australian building product manufacturers – many of them SME and family-owned businesses – who are united in their commitment to driving innovation, professionalism and competitiveness.”

HIA’s National Manufacturers Council represents a broad network of local manufacturers and suppliers who underpin the residential construction sector, supplying essential products from raw materials through to finished components.

Despite the sector’s importance, HIA has cautioned that policy settings are not keeping pace with the needs of modern manufacturing.

“Support for investment in technological advancement and research and development in Australia has been lacking over the past decade.

“At the same time, regulatory frameworks are slow to adapt and often present roadblocks to the adoption of new and more innovative forms of construction.

“Increasing regulatory obligations on manufacturers and suppliers are also hindering productivity and limiting innovation.

These concerns have been consistently raised by HIA’s National Manufacturers Council, particularly as Australia looks to capitalise on opportunities associated with a ‘Future Made in Australia’.

“Manufacturing construction products in Australia can be challenging, with pressures ranging from economic conditions and geography to energy pricing and reliability, as well as complex regulatory requirements.

HIA is calling on governments at all levels to take practical steps to strengthen domestic manufacturing capability and support the sector’s long-term growth.

“There is much more governments can do, including proactively supporting research and development into emerging technologies that can improve efficiency and productivity in construction.

“Developing stronger partnerships between government, industry and education providers will also be critical to ensuring the right skills and technologies are available to meet future housing demand.”

HIA also highlighted the need to reduce unnecessary regulatory burden.

“Simplifying current regulation — including supply chain reporting and sustainability obligations — will remove roadblocks and allow Australian manufacturers to focus on innovation and growth,” she said.

Labour shortages remain a key constraint across the sector, limiting the ability of manufacturers to expand and invest.

“Supporting Australia’s sovereign manufacturing capability requires a dedicated workforce and labour strategy to help businesses attract, train and retain skilled workers.

“This should be complemented by a strong ‘Buy Australian’ focus, encouraging builders, consumers and governments to prioritise locally made building products.

“As we celebrate Australian Made Week, it’s important to recognise that backing local manufacturing means supporting Australian jobs, strengthening communities and ensuring we have the capability to build the homes Australia needs into the future,” Ms Martin concluded.

Join the celebrations as we encourage shoppers to support Australian Made businesses. Use the hashtag #AustralianMadeWeek and remember to tag the Australian Made Campaign:
@australianmadecampaignltd
@australianmadecampaign
@australianmadecampaign
@australianmadecampaign

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