Property Council Opposes Key Element of Coalition’s Housing Plan

The Property Council of Australia has publicly rejected a central aspect of the Coalition’s newly announced $5 billion housing policy, despite CEO Mike Zorbas being present at the policy’s unveiling alongside Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.

The policy includes a 10-year freeze on changes to the National Construction Code (NCC), aiming to cut regulatory burdens. However, Zorbas clarified that the Council supports regular reviews of the NCC. The freeze has raised concerns, as the NCC updates address important issues like safety and energy standards, with some industry members questioning its implications.

The plan intends to fast-track 500,000 new homes through infrastructure investment, but the Coalition’s claim that code requirements significantly increase housing costs has been contested. The Australian Building Codes Board and others argue that the cost of energy efficiency improvements is lower than suggested by the Coalition. The opposition’s policy faces further challenges, as the power to alter the NCC rests with state and territory ministers, not the federal government. The Master Builders Association has voiced conditional support for pausing “unnecessary” code changes, aiming to balance cost control and construction standards.