For the first time in Australia's history, the Tasmanian Government will be deferring proposed changes to the National Construction Code (NCC), significantly reducing red tape and construction prices for the sector.
Along with the significant increase in red tape, recent changes to the NCC add substantial cost to the price of a new home which flows on to Tasmanian families trying to realise the dream of homeownership.
Minister for Housing, Planning, and Consumer Affairs, Felix Ellis, said the Tasmanian Government is leading the nation by providing the building and construction sector the confidence they need to build more homes cheaper, easier, and faster.
"We have listened to the concerns of home builders, and we understand the effect constant changes to the NCC is having on the cost of building homes for Tasmanians," Minister Ellis said.
"We are the first state to defer the NCC to this extent, because we know that strong action needs be taken to get homes built for Tasmanians.
"The Tasmanian Government is sending a message to the building and construction industry loud and clear – we will back you to build our homes.
"Through our Government's 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future, we are committed to taking strong action to increase housing supply and affordability."
The Tasmanian Government is also calling for a move to a five-year amendment cycle for any further NCC changes from NCC 2025. This position would provide more stability and certainty, while also providing greater opportunity for industry education and awareness.
It's important to note, the deferral of the NCC will not have an effect on the rollout of the previously announced liveable housing provisions.
David Clerk, CEO of Master Builders Tasmania, welcomed the Tasmanian Government's announcement to pause implementing further changes to the NCC.
"Builders, subcontractors, and certifiers are finding it increasingly challenging to interpret and apply the NCC correctly and the ambiguity is causing delays and added costs that are ultimately passed on to consumers.
"We value our partnership with the Tasmanian Government and are committed to working together to ensure that the building and construction sector remains strong, sustainable, and able to meet the needs of our growing community."
Housing Industry Association Tasmania Executive Director, Stuart Collins, said the commitment announced today by the Tasmanian Government is a sensible decision and is welcomed by HIA.
"Over recent years, the NCC reforms being placed on the industry has increased ten-fold and created significant regulatory burden on industry.
"The most recent NCC changes introduced were the single biggest amendments to the code in history and added significant additional cost and complexity to building for builders and homeowners.
"The Tasmanian Government's initiative to place a reset on further significant rule changes and move to an extended amendment cycle for the NCC will provide greater certainty to the industry and let builders get on with the job of building homes for Tasmanians."
