Coalition promises construction code overhaul to boost housing

Australia's Coalition opposition has pledged to overhaul the national construction code, aiming to significantly speed up housing construction and reduce net overseas migration. Shadow housing minister Andrew Bragg announced plans to condense the current 2,000-page code into a more manageable 80-page "basic Australian standard."

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I don’t think you should bank that at all. Let’s just wait and see, firstly, what Senate Bragg’s saying in his speech and we haven’t made an announcement about where we’re going to be going into the next election, but our focus is actually about what we need to do to invest in the long-term growth and success of our country.

Bragg argued that the existing code is overly complex and makes it "illegal to build a cheap safe house." The Coalition's proposal aims to streamline regulations, which they believe will unlock more housing supply. This initiative is tied to a broader promise to reduce net overseas migration to below 180,000 people per year over the next four years.

The Coalition plans to achieve the migration reduction by cutting family visas and international student visas. They contend that a lower migration intake is manageable and aligns with historical reductions, citing a decline in net overseas migration from 300,000 to 175,000 between 2009 and 2010. The focus, they state, will be on attracting skilled migrant workers who fill specific Australian industry needs.

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illegal to build a cheap safe house

While the Coalition has outlined these proposals, shadow treasurer Tim Wilson appeared hesitant to lock in the specific 180,000 migration target when questioned by the media. He emphasized that the party has not yet made a final announcement regarding its election platform but stressed a focus on long-term national growth and success. The government's current permanent migration level is set at 185,000, with net overseas migration anticipated to be 245,000 for 2026-27.

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A NOM reduction on this scale is manageable and in line with reductions we have managed in recent history – for example in 2009-2010 when the NOM declined from 300,000 to 175,000 in around 18 months.