A new chapter of growth is unfolding in Queensland. With the 2032 Olympics now firmly on the horizon, a pipeline of ‘generational’ infrastructure and a massive, untapped demand for housing to be unlocked, the construction industry faces both exceptional opportunity and challenges.
To meet the challenges, construction businesses need a predictable environment where they can operate efficiently and sustainably. This includes resilient supply chains for building materials and skilled labour, and the flexibility to adopt innovative and more productive ways of working.
Reducing unnecessary red tape and creating clear, targeted regulatory frameworks will allow companies to deliver projects with confidence. Safety and compliance must remain priorities, and this is best achieved with targeted regulation and enforcement. Similarly, achieving a more sustainable and resilient built environment is best achieved when approached wholistically, encompassing both new construction and upgrading existing buildings.
With the right environment, Queensland’s construction industry can meet the challenges of this extraordinary pipeline of work and deliver the infrastructure and housing the state needs.
Here’s a snapshot of our key areas of focus.
Building our workforce
As we tackle the worsening workforce shortage, we’ll work for a collaborative workforce plan. We’ll fight for a more efficient and accessible QBCC licensing process to get more people on the tools, boost and sustain apprentice wage subsidies, and support initiatives to bring more women, and skilled migrants, into the workforce.
Stable and transparent product supply chains
We’ll advocate for a transparent, long-term infrastructure plan from the Queensland Government. We need more funding for more efficient utilities connections for new developments, and to implement the Queensland Timber Action Plan. We’ll call on government to lead the development of digital supply chain traceability, improve product assurance, and support local government in the delivery of sustainable land supply for new housing.
Sustainable and innovative businesses
Project Trust Accounts must be scrapped in favour of security of payment measures that actually work, are fair and accessible. Builders must be better supported through better cashflow, more certainty around labour, material costs and overheads, and to expand the uptake of modern methods of construction.
Better building regulation
We’ll continue to call for free access to the Australian Standards referenced in the National Construction Code (NCC), and for the mandate on the energy efficiency and livable housing requirements in NCC 2022 to be removed. We also need action on the 10 essential changes to the energy efficiency and livable housing requirements responsible for the worst of the cost hikes and technical problems.
Fair and transparent regulator
The QBCC needs to operate as a best practice, balanced and robust regulator. This includes holding licensed subcontractors to account when they carry out defective work, for licensees to be given time to fix a defect before a ‘direction to rectify’ is issued, and for Minimum Financial Requirements to be streamlined. Improper or vexatious consumer complaints should be filtered to prevent them from consuming valuable time and resources of both the QBCC and licensees.
Keeping workplaces safe
Health and safety must remain priority one on our worksites. We’ll continue to advocate for a review of Queensland’s WHS laws to remove provisions that don’t maximise safety, and create unnecessary duplication, as well as ensuring they reflect the National Model WHS Law where practicable.
Environmental sustainability and resilience
To meet the ambitious targets set by government and industry, we need a system-wide approach encompassing infrastructure, investment and insurance, ahead of any resilience measures being included in the NCC. Existing schemes must be expanded, helping more homeowners to make their properties more energy efficient and resilient. The road to net zero in Queensland must also not drive-up costs or add regulatory burden.
Meeting Queensland’s housing targets
We will work for statewide housing codes that standardise basic design and siting requirements for detached houses, secondary dwellings, and small attached dwellings. Extending the boost to the homeowners grant beyond 30 June 2026, further stamp duty exemptions, increasing funding for social and affordable housing, and Queenslanders getting a fair share of federal funding programs, will all help get more people into homes, sooner.
Brisbane 2032 legacy
Our industry is on the starting blocks to deliver the program of works for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games – and we need to ensure Queensland industry is first in line for the work, not depending on large out-of-state companies, so we have a fair chance at being part of the legacy.
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