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.
Master Builders sheds light on negative consequences of recent IR legislation
MEDIA RELEASE: Releasing its submission to the Albanese Government’s review of the Secure Jobs, Better Pay and Closing Loopholes legislation, Master Builders Australia has highlighted the cumulative impact of certain changes on the building and construction industry.
The abolition of the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) and the repeal...
Momentum shifts for new home builds, but failure to deliver has a real cost
Master Builders says fresh Australian Bureau of Statistics data showing new home building approvals nearing a two-year high is good news, but much more improvement is still needed to build the homes Australians desperately need.
The ABS data released today shows that new home building approvals rose by 4.2 per...
Builders welcome passage of new housing legislation
MEDIA RELEASE: After a year-long political fight, the Parliament has finally passed the Help to Buy and Build to Rent bills that benefit aspiring homeowners and encourage more housing supply.
Master Builders has strongly supported both pieces of legislation.
Help to Buy is a shared equity scheme allowing eligible home...
Update on the CFMEU administration
Following a damning exposé by Nine media in mid-July (“Building Bad”), on Friday 23 August 2024, all Construction and General Divisions of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) were placed into a scheme of administration by the Albanese Labor Government. This was a truly historic event. The stated...
Silica training for workers
You must provide crystalline silica training to:
- any worker involved in processing of a crystalline silica substance (CSS) that is high risk; or
- who is at risk of exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) because of that
If your workers are not undertaking high risk processing, you must still provide...
Importance of detailed geotechnical reports for soil parameters
Building Commission NSW encourages all design and building practitioners to seek and rely on a detailed geotechnical report and not assume soil parameters according to preliminary reports. The reminder comes after a recent audit found a final geotechnical report was missing before the construction of a multi-storey building.
Preliminary soil...
New position statements from Fire and Rescue NSW
On 9 October 2024, Fire and Rescue NSW published the following new position statements on their website.
The Fire hydrant system – single vs multiple position statement “emphasises that the NCC identifies the provision of a single fire hydrant system only, reminding building proponents to consider such in any hydrant system design”...
Understanding the types and impacts of banter and humour on women
The NSW Government is investing $20.2 million over three years in the Women in Construction Industry Innovation Program to create inclusive workplace cultures, attract and retain women in the construction industry, and support women in leadership roles. Master Builders Association of NSW has been awarded a grant under this initiative...
2-year study finds flexibility is key to work-life balance in building
A study on whether a five-day week will improve work-life balance in the building and construction industry has found workplace flexibility is a better approach than enforcing a shorter working week.
The Master Builders Association of New South Wales worked in partnership with the School of the Built Environment at...
It shouldn’t take this long to build a home
Master Builders Australia has today released new analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics data which shows detached home and apartment building times continue to blow out.
Fifteen years ago, it took on average 9 months to build a stand-a-alone house. Fast forward to today and it now takes 12.7 months...