Building and construction

We work with state and territory governments to ensure a more efficient and internationally competitive building and construction industry. This includes the adoption of nationally consistent regulations such as the National Construction Code (NCC).

To help maintain a stable regulatory framework for national industry, the Minister for Industry, Science and Technology chairs the Building Ministers’ Forum (BMF). The Australian Government collaborates with state and territory governments through the BMF's sub-groups.

Restoring confidence in the built environment

The Australian Government, with Australian states and territories, is creating a stronger building and construction sector in Australia.

While we don't have constitutional power to regulate the built environment, we’re working through the BMF to restore confidence by:

• mitigating the public safety risks of industry non‑compliance
• addressing systemic problems in the industry consistently and in a timely way

The BMF commissioned independent experts Professor Peter Shergold AC and Bronwyn Weir to assess Australia’s building and construction industry compliance and enforcement systems.

The Building Confidence Report was published in February 2018.

The report found some deficiencies in Australia’s building industry culture and governance arrangements. It made 24 recommendations to improve compliance and ensure building safety in Australia.

In July 2019 the BMF agreed to implement these recommendations nationally through the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB).

Implementation team and national framework

An implementation team has been established within the ABCB.

The team will develop a national framework for acting on the report recommendations and ensuring they are implemented consistently. The team will also:

• make sure the design, construction and certification of complex buildings is consistent
• report on the framework to the public

The national framework outlines a range of work to be done, including:

• amendments to the National Construction Code
• model legislative provisions,
• non‑regulatory tools and
• educational programs 

The implementation team is engaging with industry and all states and territories to move this work forward.

Ultimately, state and territory governments are responsible for implementing the Building Confidence report recommendations.

Combustible cladding

While the Australian Government is concerned for residents and others affected by building failures, Australia’s state and territory governments are responsible for regulating building and construction activities including the remediation and rectification of combustible cladding.

State and territory cladding audits

Following the Grenfell Tower fire in the United Kingdom in 2017, Australian states and territories are auditing high-rise buildings to determine how much non‑compliant cladding has been used. 

The Commonwealth strongly encourages the states and territories to cooperate to rectify non‑compliant buildings. Each state and territory has its own approach to:

• identifying potentially non‑compliant cladding
• determining which buildings are high risk and must be rectified 

For information on cladding audits in your state or territory visit the relevant website.

New South Wales

• Department of Finance, Services and Innovation

Victoria

• Victorian Building Authority

Queensland

• Queensland Building and Construction Commission

Western Australia

• Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety

South Australia

• Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure

Tasmania

• Consumer, Building and Occupation Services

Australian Capital Territory

• Building Cladding Review Group

If you’re concerned about your property or home

If you own an apartment and you're concerned it might have a defect or issue, contact the body corporate or owners' corporation.

Owners of other kinds of property can contact the consumer protection agency or building regulator in their state or territory.

If you rent an apartment, contact your landlord to report your concerns.

Inquiries and reviews

We provide input and respond to parliamentary inquiries including the:

• Senate Inquiry into Non-Conforming Building Products
• Senate Inquiry into the use of smoke alarms

We conduct legislative reviews of the Disability (Access to Premises-Building) Standards 2010.

Contact us

Email BuildingIndustry@industry.gov.au

See also

Find out about Australia's Standard and Conformance Infrastructure.