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HIA Executive Director Tasmania, Benjamin Price, said the proposal cuts capacity at the worst possible time for housing and construction.
Mr Price said, businesses need certainty and timeliness across planning, building and plumbing functions, including approvals, inspections and day to day customer service.
“Reducing ordinary hours by 20 per cent beggars belief. Less time on the clock inside council cannot become more time on hold for Tasmanian construction businesses.
“This proposal does not stack up.
“Industry and the local community deserve better than a 20 per cent reduction in council capacity. A 20 per cent cut to council hours is a 20 per cent blow to business confidence in Launceston," Mr Price said.
“Councils across Tasmania should be focused on increasing capacity and capability to deliver essential services—not pulling one day in five out of the system.
"The focus should be on fixing staffing pressures by adding capacity and working with industry and business on practical rostering that keeps decisions flowing. That’s how you support investment and protect jobs.”
HIA said, innovation is welcome when it helps retain skilled people, but only when it protects service levels for the public and industry.
If this change pulls hours out of essential services, Tasmanian businesses will be left carrying the cost through idle crews, delayed deliveries and higher project risks,” Mr Price said.
The Victorian Housing Industry Association (HIA) takes this opportunity to make a submission ahead of the 2026-27 State Budget.
“Access to skilled labour deteriorated further, across almost all regions and all trades, as the number of homes under construction grew in the March quarter this year,” stated HIA Senior Economist Tom Devitt.
Industry was recently advised that a preview of NCC 2025 was published, and will be available for adoption from 1 May 2026.
Saturday 25 April is Anzac Day and is an observed public holiday. In addition, Monday 27 April has also been gazetted as a public holiday in NSW and the ACT this year.