Builders Back on Site as Red Tape Clears

There’s a welcome change in the air for Australia’s construction industry, with long-awaited regulatory reform finally picking up pace. Following the recent Economic Reform Roundtable in Canberra, the Federal Government has pledged to cut through the tangle of red tape slowing down new home builds—delivering practical reforms designed to get builders back on site and accelerate the delivery of much-needed housing across the country.

At the heart of the announcement is a shared recognition: the current system, while well-intentioned, has become increasingly complex, bloated, and inefficient. With over 2,000 pages of regulations in the National Construction Code and a growing backlog of homes awaiting approval, the building process has been bogged down by paperwork, delays, and ever-changing standards. It’s been frustrating for builders, developers, and everyday Australians alike.

But there’s now reason to be optimistic.

Minister for Housing, Clare O’Neil, described the reforms as a way to give builders “room to breathe” and shift their focus back to doing what they do best—building high-quality homes. “We want our builders on site, not stuck in a back office filling out forms,” she said. That’s a sentiment that resonates across the industry and signals a return to productivity.

Key to the reform package is a temporary pause on non-essential changes to the National Construction Code. This break will provide certainty to builders and allow time to simplify the code’s content, with the Government now exploring how artificial intelligence can help tradies, small businesses, and households better navigate the extensive document.

The use of AI doesn’t stop there. A new “strike team” will be formed within the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water to fast-track environmental approvals—specifically targeting a backlog of more than 26,000 homes currently held up under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. This team will use AI to streamline assessments and speed up decisions without compromising environmental protections.

The Housing Industry Association (HIA), which had been calling for housing reform to be front and centre at the Roundtable, has welcomed the announcement. Jocelyn Martin, HIA Managing Director, said, “The burden of regulation related to building, planning and approvals is adding cost and delays which is impacting our ability to supply the homes we need.” She noted that pausing further changes, improving how building codes are developed, and removing barriers to modern methods of construction—such as prefabrication—are all positive steps forward.

Industry bodies aren’t the only ones applauding the change. The Property Council of Australia called the reforms “sensible” and a “win” for housing supply, particularly backing the integration of AI into planning systems to cut through confusion and duplication. Even the opposition has offered support, with Shadow Treasurer Ted O’Brien acknowledging the Coalition’s similar election proposal, saying “commonsense changes” are needed to boost supply.

Of course, the conversation doesn’t end here. Delivering more homes faster still depends on ongoing collaboration between Federal, State, and Territory governments. But this united move to reduce complexity and increase efficiency is a strong start—and a clear signal that housing is once again a top priority.

In an industry built on momentum, this reform offers just that. Less time tangled in forms and more time building communities. Less complexity and more clarity. More homes on the ground, where they’re needed most.

For builders, developers, suppliers, and tradespeople alike, it’s a refreshing reminder: we’re moving in the right direction. Let’s build on it.