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Builders have called on the Queensland government to delay new housing regulations to ease pressure on the industry as it deals with widespread labour shortages.
Key points:
- Queensland builders want new accessibility and energy efficiency regulations to be delayed amid existing challenges
- Disability advocates say the changes are a benefit to a broad section of the community
- The government says the regulations would make homes liveable for generations to come
Industry figures say the time it takes to build a new home in Queensland has doubled, in some cases, since the outbreak of the pandemic.
They say there is no simple solution to the construction challenges, which have been prompted by labour shortages, increased demand, and high material costs.
Master Builders Queensland chief executive Paul Bidwell says the organisation has called on the state government to postpone new regulations that will standardise accessibility provisions and energy efficiency requirements for new homes.
Changes include building new homes that are easier for more people to navigate and that comply with higher energy star ratings.
Mr Bidwell said delaying the plans until next year could lower the costs of construction and ease industry shortages.
"The state government has few levers to pull, but one they do have is that they're looking at introducing new laws, regulations, towards the end of this year that will increase the cost of construction," he said.
Construction delays could ease by next year, Mr Bidwell said.
But it was a move that an advocate for accessible housing, Margaret Ward, said was "mischievous in the extreme".
Dr Ward said advocates worked with the industry and government for "decades" to establish a national construction code for accessibility standards.
"With all that work done in a very consultative way — and a high-order policy decision made by Australia's housing ministers — [the fact] that he goes out and touts this is mischievous. It's mischievous in the extreme," she said.
What's causing the building delays?
Despite a range of issues, right now the building industry is suffering from a shortage of workers.
"The shortages of the trades means it is taking longer to build," Mr Bidwell said.
It is the latest factor to hit the industry following high material prices.
"We think the materials issue is settling to a point. It depends on where you are and what you're doing, but it's mostly the shortage of the trades," Mr Bidwell said.
He said the delays, increased material costs, and rising interest rates had spooked some developers from investing in new housing, which further exacerbated the housing crisis.
"It's a really interesting environment that we're operating [in]," Mr Bidwell said.
"[The] time taken to build has doubled since 2019."
The construction of a high-set home normally takes six months, but this has extended out to a 12-month time frame, Mr Bidwell says.
And the usual three- or four-month construction period for low-set homes has become closer to six or eight months.
AVID Property Group Queensland general manager Bruce Harper said building delays could last for at least another six months.
"It's going to keep going as the bulge [of delays] moves through the system," he said.
When are changes due to come in?
Queensland is due to adopt changes to the National Construction Code in October.
The new laws detail minimum accessibility and energy-efficiency standards for building new homes.
Accessibility changes mean homes will need to include at least one step-free entry, wider internal doors and corridors, and a toilet on the ground or entry level.
The energy efficiency changes mean that new buildings will need to meet a minimum star rating of seven, instead of six, out of 10.
Those changes would include better insulation and airflow, more rooftop solar panels, lighter-coloured roofs, and window glazing that is both wall and climate appropriate.
What will the changes mean in practice?
Disability advocates say there are very few costs associated with changes to accessibility regulations.
John Mayo is the chief adviser to the government for Spinal Life Australia and said changes to house designs did not require builders to use any new products or techniques.
He said any delays to implementing the new code would be postponing the bare minimum.
"The changes only meet the requirements of those who have trouble walking," Mr Mayo said.
He says accessible housing is a vital topic for a broad cross-section of the community.
"Young families have ageing parents and their houses need to be accessible so parents can visit," Mr Mayo said.
What does the government say?
Queensland Energy and Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni said the changes meant new home builds would be safer as well as more secure and liveable for generations to come.
"This is especially important for our growing population of seniors, but also for families with young children and people who suffer temporary injury or a permanent disability," he said in a statement.
The changes would allow more people to be discharged from health and care facilities, Mr de Brenni said.
"The aged care and health system are congested with too many Australians who could otherwise be in their own homes if they were suitable," he said.
"These changes will help ease the substantial pressure on those systems.
"Detractors will say this will keep people out of the housing market, which is simply not true and is akin to saying cars should be built without seatbelts or airbags because of the cost."
Mr de Brenni said the building industry has had plenty of time to prepare for the changes.