The federal government is pausing further updates to the lengthy National Construction Code until mid-2029, a move aimed at speeding up housing approvals. This decision follows a recent push from the Economic Reform Roundtable.
The code, a hefty 2,000-page document, typically sees scheduled updates every three years. The current plan halts significant changes, excluding those vital for essential safety and quality, pushing the next round of revisions from 2028 to mid-2029.
This means any planned improvements to energy efficiency or environmental impacts will be delayed by at least a year. Housing Minister Clare O’Neil stated, “It’s too hard to build a home in this contry.” She added, “We wont builders on site, not filling in forms to get their approval.”
Did you know?-The National Construction Code governs building standards across Australia, covering health, safety, amenity, accessibility, and sustainability. It’s developed and maintained by the Australian Building Codes Board.
in parallel, Surroundings Minister Murray Watt announced that decisions on applications for over 26,000 new homes will be fast-tracked. While this doesn’t guarantee approval, it ensures quicker decision-making. Senator Watt clarified, “Fast-tracked projects will continue to be required to meet all environmental requirements.” He added, “But [the fast-tracked decisions] will incentivise developers to provide required details up-front.”
The government is also acting on other recommendations from the roundtable.Thes include easing barriers for superannuation funds to invest in housing supply, promoting modern construction methods like prefab housing, and collaborating wiht states to accelerate building approvals.
Pro tip:-Developers should prepare thorough documentation upfront when submitting applications. this will streamline the fast-tracked approval process and avoid delays due to incomplete information.
Explanation of Changes & Answers to Questions:
Why: The federal government paused updates to the National Construction Code to address the housing crisis by speeding up approvals. The code’s complexity was identified as a barrier to construction.
Who: Key players include the federal government (Housing Minister Clare O’Neil, Environment Minister Murray Watt, Treasurer Jim Chalmers), the Economic Reform Roundtable, builders, developers, and potentially superannuation funds. what: The government is pausing significant updates to the 2,000-page National Construction Code until mid-2029 (excluding safety/quality updates), fast-tracking over 26,000 home applications, and exploring other measures to increase housing supply.
How did it end? The article doesn’t describe a definitive “end” but outlines ongoing actions. The pause on code updates is in effect until mid-2029, with a review of the update cycle underway. The fast-tracking of applications is also ongoing. The article presents a series of initiatives, not a completed event.* Breakpoints & Interactive Boxes: Two natural breakpoints were identified after the first key section detailing the
