HIA
Australia’s residential building sector is set to gather at a pivotal moment, with industry leaders converging on the Gold Coast for the HIA National Policy Congress.
This comes amid mounting pressure on housing supply, costs and policy direction.
The annual congress, hosted by the Housing Industry Association (HIA), comes as the sector grapples with the Federal Government’s ambitious target of delivering 1.2 million homes by 2029 – a goal many within the industry say is increasingly under strain.
HIA Managing Director Jocelyn Martin described this year’s gathering as one of the most significant in recent memory, pointing to a convergence of economic, geopolitical and regulatory challenges weighing on builders.
Ongoing conflict in the Middle East, rising global energy costs and uncertainty ahead of the May Federal Budget are expected to dominate discussions.
Concerns are also growing around potential changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing, with industry leaders warning that further pressure on property investors could reduce housing supply at a critical time.
“The equation is simple – if you tax more of something, you get less of it,” Ms Martin said, noting that investors financed roughly 40 per cent of new dwellings last year.
Builders are also facing increasing financial strain from fixed-price contracts signed before the latest surge in costs, particularly as energy prices flow through the broader economy.
At the same time, supply chain challenges and rising material costs continue to impact project viability.
Beyond economic pressures, the congress will focus heavily on regulatory reform.
Industry leaders argue that a decade of increasing red tape has significantly added to the cost and complexity of home building in Australia, contributing to the current housing shortfall.
A major item on the agenda will be the future of the National Construction Code (NCC), the framework that governs building standards.
There is growing consensus within the industry that the code has become overly complex and is no longer fit for purpose, prompting calls for a comprehensive overhaul.
Skill shortages will also take centre stage, with the industry pushing for reforms to Australia’s skilled migration system to help address workforce gaps that continue to slow construction timelines.
In addition, delegates are expected to debate the role of artificial intelligence in the sector.
Ms Martin said the industry is at a crossroads, warning that while housing targets are ambitious, current policy settings across all levels of government are hindering the timely and affordable delivery of new homes.
“There is arguably no one better placed than home builders, manufacturers and related professionals to understand these challenges,” she said.
