Discover the latest updates and essential insights in the building and construction industry. For all significant news and developments, this is your go-to source.
Brickies on $500,000?
Australia’s housing emergency dominated the agenda at this week’s Financial Review Property Summit in Sydney, where industry leaders warned that even with ambitious targets, the sector lacks the workforce to deliver the homes needed.
Key points from the summit
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Housing supply targets: The federal government’s 1.2 million homes in...
NSW planning hurdles cost developers time and money
Cbus Property CEO Adrian Pozzo has slammed New South Wales’ planning and building process, calling it “heartache” for developers. Speaking at the Financial Review Property Summit, Pozzo said a North Sydney site purchased four years ago was stalled in the approval system for years, tying up $200 million with no...
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Strathfield pushes for family-friendly apartments
Strathfield Council is moving to mandate more family-sized apartments in high-rise projects, reflecting the reality that many families are now raising children in units. The proposal would require developments with 10 or more dwellings to allocate up to 20 per cent as three-bedroom apartments under the council’s development control plan...
Construction activity lifts while inflation pops
Quick take
The June 2025 quarter delivered stronger construction activity, led by engineering work, while July inflation spiked on electricity. For builders, residential demand looks steadier, non-residential is softer, and rates are still expected to stay on hold in September.
Key points for builders
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Total construction work up 3.0% in...
Government pauses national construction code changes
The Federal Government has announced a pause on further changes to the National Construction Code (NCC) until mid-2029. The decision comes after mounting pressure from industry groups, including Master Builders, who have raised concerns about the heavy compliance burden on small businesses. At more than 2,000 pages and with 120...
Master Builders’ response to Economic Reform Roundtable
The Treasurer’s reform priorities from the Economic Reform Roundtable mark important progress, with commitments on housing, skills, and cutting red tape delivering wins for the building and construction industry says Master Builders Australia.
But success will depend on government following through with action, not just aspiration.
The Treasurer outlined 10...
New home lending falls sharply, investors hit hardest
Home lending activity continues to slide, with new ABS figures showing sharp falls across several key categories.
Over the past year, loans for new home construction dropped 6.1 per cent, while lending for the purchase of newly built homes plunged 20.7 per cent. Residential land purchases were also down 6.0...
New home building approvals surge not enough
Master Builders Australia has welcomed the latest surge in new home building approvals, but warns much more will be needed to stay on track to meet the National Housing Accord target.
New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows total home building approvals jumped by 11.9 per cent in...
ATO warns businesses against falsifying GST claims
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has launched a crackdown on fraudulent GST claims in the building and construction industry. From 1 July 2025, the ATO can now withhold suspicious GST refunds for up to 30 days while investigating. Those caught face interest charges, penalties, potential prosecution, and promoter penalties...