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.

Building approvals and lending figures - Feb 2023

03/04/2023

The ABS has released February 2023 data for building approvals and lending figures.

Master Builders Australia chief economist Shane Garrett says there was a 4.0 per cent increase in the number of new homes approved during February 2023. Detached house building approvals drove the improvement with a gain of 11.3...

Time to lift the handbrake on building industry

03/04/2023

The latest National Housing Finance Investment Corporation (NHFIC) State of the Nation’s Housing 2022-23 report confirms builders’ concerns about achieving Australia’s housing needs.

Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn said the report is more evidence that we are falling well short of the 200,000 homes needed each year to keep...

Builders call for increased efforts to address home building cost pressures

29/03/2023

Today’s monthly inflation indicator for February 2023 is another reminder of how we risk entrenching inflation without appropriately addressing supply-side hurdles, says Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn.

“The annual rate of inflation has eased back to 6.8 per cent, down from 7.4 per cent in January. While this is...

New deadline for HomeBuilder paperwork: June 2025

27/03/2023

Key points:

  • The Australian government has extended the HomeBuilder grant deadline to June 30, 2025 
  • Labour shortages and supply chain issues caused construction delays, risking homeowners missing the grant deadline.
  • The extension of the HomeBuilder scheme is only applicable to already approved homeowners who have received formal approval, subject to...

Policy Priorities Document for upcoming State Election

17/03/2023

During the months of December 2022, January, and February 2023, the Association undertook active discussion with the Building Industry in NSW to develop a "Policy Priorities Document" for the upcoming State Election.

 

The priorities for the building and construction industry in NSW were established through direct communication with building...

NSW building powers to be expanded

03/03/2023

The NSW Government is standing firm on its commitment to make developers, designers and engineers lift their game and restore public confidence in the building industry, with the Government’s landmark industry reforms set to be expanded to include more buildings.

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said...

Waterproofing question

21/02/2023

Fair Trading recently received a question from the Master Plumbers regarding waterproofing and the Design and Building Practitioners Act. 

 

Question
“Not sure if this (the DBPA) would affect us in any way, or if it affects the shower rebuilds or re waterproofing etc? Currently, we investigate water leaks and diagnose the...

New Design Compliance Declaration forms: start using them now!

07/02/2023

Updated Design Compliance Declaration forms and accompanying guidance material are now available on the NSW Fair Trading website.

NSW Fair Trading have redesigned these documents to make it easier to meet legislative requirements and better support design and building practitioners.

Since 1st July 2021, under the Design and Building...

New compliance declaration requirements for building practitioners

07/02/2023

From 13 February 2023, building practitioners must lodge a copy of the fire safety certificate on the NSW Planning Portal when submitting a building compliance declaration under the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020. 

To support this new requirement, building owners must now also provide the fire safety certificate to...

icare opens new Dust Diseases Care Health Screening Clinic

07/02/2023

Insurance and Care NSW (iCare) have opened a new Dust Disease Care Health Screening Clinic, which has relocated to iCare’s headquarters at 321 Kent Street, Sydney.

The Clinic offers lung health examinations to employers, workers and retirees who have had exposure to hazardous dust in a NSW workplace.

The service...