An urgent call is going out to Australia-based members of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) to take part in a once-in-a-generation initiative to modernise and make fit-for-purpose the country’s sprawling National Construction Code.
Members are invited to join a virtual roundtable discussion on Thursday 29 January at 5.30pm AEDT. Joining instructions will be issued shortly.
They’re also encouraged to share their thoughts, experiences, and recommendations on the CIOB collaboration document, online here.
“CIOB is regularly invited to advise Government on construction issues, and it’s an enormous benefit to the quality of our submission when members contribute,” said Isaac Ryan, CIOB’s Policy and Government Relations Manager for Oceania.
Slower than 30 years ago
A big reason why the government wants to overhaul the Code is that adequate housing is becoming scarcer even as residential construction productivity is falling.
According to a Treasury discussion paper, fewer than half as many homes are built per hour worked than 30 years ago.
Meanwhile, all levels of government in Australia have committed to building 1.2 million new homes where they’re needed by June 2029. The Treasury sees ever expanding regulation as the main barrier.
“For too many Australian builders, it takes longer to get approval for a home than it does to build one,” the discussion paper says.
“This is holding back housing supply and making it harder for ordinary Australians to get into a home of their own.”
From 2,000 pages to …?
For this reason, CIOB is asking members for help in thinking about reducing the Code’s complexity and regulatory burden.
It currently runs to 2,000 pages, including 600 pages of state variations. Members are asked to advise on what can be simplified without compromising safety.
CIOB is also asking members about:
- Usability and accessibility: How can we make the NCC easier to understand, navigate, and apply using digital tools and clearer language?
- Innovation and housing diversity: What barriers prevent the adoption of modern construction methods, new materials, and diverse housing types?
- Governance and process: How can the governance model and processes of the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) better serve industry needs?
Isaac Ryan added: “Your insights will directly inform CIOB’s formal response to the Australian Treasury, giving our sector a strong, unified voice in this crucial reform process.”
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