11 February 2026
Master Builders has delivered its 2026–27 Pre-Budget Submission to the state government, highlighting the urgent need to drive productivity in Queensland’s building and construction industry.
CEO Paul Bidwell said this need had never been greater – and the case for action never stronger.
“Our sector is facing what is arguably the most extraordinary pipeline of housing, community, and infrastructure projects our state has ever seen – not to mention those for the 2032 Games delivery program,” Mr Bidwell said.
“To meet this challenge, construction businesses need a stable operating environment. One that supports efficiency and sustainability. That means resilient supply chains for skilled labour and materials. It means flexibility to adopt more innovative and productive ways of working. And it means regulation that is targeted, clear, and doesn’t drag productivity down.”
Mr Bidwell pointed to the Queensland Productivity Commission having already done the groundwork in delivering its final report – and industry welcoming government’s response on several recommendations.
“The upcoming Budget presents a critical opportunity for government to take further meaningful action where it matters most,” he said.
“To this end, our submission urges a firm focus on funding to support growing our workforce, strategic investment to deliver housing targets, and a whole-of-government focus on rebuilding productivity.”
It comes as the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show new building approvals rose 10.5 per cent in the year to December to 41,039 – still short of the annual government target of 50,000, but stronger than NSW and Victoria, with both southern states well behind where they were 12 months ago.
Turning to the regional breakdown, approvals for new units on the Gold Coast continued to lead the charge, taking the region up 58 per cent over the past three months. Wide Bay also experienced a strong surge in unit approvals moving the region up to +7 per cent in the same period. Downs & Western and Central Queensland were also positive, up 24.9 per cent and 8.2 per cent respectively due to an increase in approvals for detached houses. The remaining regions saw a drop in approvals over the three-month period, across both units and detached houses.
“These figures further make our case: Queensland can’t afford productivity to be the handbrake on the homes and infrastructure we urgently need,” Mr Bidwell said.
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