Australia’s residential building industry has urged governments to remove barriers to construction following the latest national policy congress.
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) National Policy Congress met on the Gold Coast on 16 April 2026, bringing together elected representatives from across Australia alongside chairs of the organisation’s eight specialist committees.
Through the Congress, the residential building sector warned that housing supply will continue to face pressure unless policy settings better support investment, productivity and confidence.
Housing delivery is being constrained by rising costs, global uncertainty, workforce shortages and an increasingly complex regulatory environment. The industry reiterated that increasing housing supply remains the only sustainable solution to Australia’s housing challenges.
Emerging policy pressures
The Congress highlighted ongoing international conflict as a key risk to residential construction activity, noting its impact on material costs, construction timeframes and broader market uncertainty.
With many builders operating under fixed-price contracts, unexpected cost increases continue to place pressure on margins and project viability, with flow-on effects for trades and suppliers.
The industry called on governments to avoid introducing policies that could further constrain housing delivery, including additional taxes, regulatory burdens or administrative delays.
Taxation and investment
HIA members reaffirmed strong opposition to changes to taxation settings that could discourage investment in new housing supply.
The Congress noted that more than 40 per cent of new dwellings are financed by investors, reinforcing the importance of maintaining stable policy settings to support continued investment.
Industry representatives argued that increasing housing supply requires greater investment, and that policy uncertainty risks undermining this objective.
National Construction Code reform
The Congress identified a significant opportunity to reform the National Construction Code (NCC), which governs home building across Australia.
Members said the NCC has become overly complex and is no longer fit for purpose, calling for a comprehensive overhaul to restore its effectiveness as a world-leading regulatory framework.
For jurisdictions implementing NCC 2025, the Congress emphasised the need for a pause on further regulatory changes until at least May 2027, allowing the industry time to adapt. Calls were also made to delay changes to workplace silica exposure standards.
Technology and productivity
The Congress acknowledged the growing role of artificial intelligence in improving productivity across the residential building sector.
AI technologies are expected to enhance business operations, streamline on-site processes, deliver cost efficiencies and strengthen supply chains through improved sourcing and resource management.
However, the industry cautioned against over-regulation, warning that excessive controls could limit innovation and restrict the adoption of technologies that may help address workforce shortages.
Industry values and standards
A new Values Statement was unanimously adopted, outlining a set of principles to guide behaviour, decision-making and engagement across the sector.
The framework is intended to strengthen professionalism, support ethical conduct, build trust and improve safety and building performance outcomes.
Circular economy considerations
The Congress also considered the implications of circular economy policies, which aim to extend the lifecycle of materials and improve resource efficiency.
While acknowledging the environmental intent, members stated that such principles should not be mandated in ways that compromise housing supply, affordability or safety outcomes.
The industry stressed that any policy frameworks must preserve flexibility in material selection and recognise regional and performance requirements.
Overall, the Congress reinforced the need for coordinated, practical policy settings that enable the residential building sector to respond to growing demand and deliver new housing efficiently.
