The Master Builders Association of NSW (Master Builders) enters correspondence in advance of the 2026/2027 NSW State Budget with initiatives and considerations for the building and construction sector to remain a key driver of economic growth in NSW.

The NSW economy continues to improve, driven by investment and digital transition...

The NSW Government has deferred the adoption of the National Construction Code 20205 until May 2027 in an advocacy win for Master Builders NSW. The Minister for Building has also ensured that the NSW Government has varied its implementation of NCC 2025 to provide the industry with more flexibility...

From 1 July 2026, Building Commission NSW fees will increase by approximately 4.4 per cent in line with movements in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

This is part of the Commission’s automatic annual indexation process, designed to ensure statutory fees keep pace with inflation and remain consistent and predictable...

Members are advised, the NSW Government is proposing further changes to the timing of regulatory amendments affecting the building industry. These proposed timeframes represent a further deferment of amendments previously communicated in 2025.

While a formal decision is still pending and remains subject to NSW Government approval, the...

Media Release 

Matthew Pollock, Executive Director of Master Builders NSW said, “Increasing minimum wages by 6 per cent and 4.75 per cent for award wages when productivity isso weak will mean labour costs and productivity drift further apart.

“There is nothing wrong with a pay rise but there...

Perhaps the second most important number to Australian home-buyers (after interest rates) was released by the ABS this morning.

CPI for April, 2026 came in at 4.2%, down from 4.6% last month.

The biggest contributor to that fall, unsurprisingly, was fuel prices due to changes to excise arrangements...

The average cost of constructing new detached houses in NSW has risen by nearly $300,000 in the 18 years from 2007/08 to 2024/25. 

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Meanwhile the average cost per square metre of constructing an apartment project in NSW has more than doubled over the same period. 

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The building regulation update focuses on three issues relevant to NSW builders and contractors: the release and phased adoption of NCC 2025, the Commonwealth’s NCC modernisation process, and the Federal Government’s pledge to remove paywalls on legislated Australian Standards.

NCC 2025 implementation

NCC 2025 (final version) was published on 1...

The average cost of building new housing increased every year for the past 18 years between 2007/08 and 2024/25 as did the cost per square metre (SQM) while the average floor area of detached houses, apartments and townhouses have fluctuated. 

Detached houses: 

Per SQM new houses are most expensive...

Construction businesses made up a quarter of all businesses in the economy entering external administration in April 2026. 

NSW accounted for around half (148 total or 44%) of the construction firms (308 total) entering external administration nationally in April 2026. NSW had by far the highest number of construction...