Construction Code Pause Wins Ministers’ Endorsement

Australia’s building ministers have agreed to pause further residential changes to the National Construction Code until mid-2029.

The Federal Government proposed on August 24 that no further residential changes to the National Construction Code (NCC) 2025, except for essential quality and safety measures, be made until mid‑2029, after the finalisation of NCC 2025.

That plan was endorsed by state and territory ministers on October 22.

In the October 2025 Building Ministers’ Meeting communiqué, the ministers said that NCC 2025 would focus on commercial and multi-unit building reforms, including improved water-ingress management, fire-safety standards in carparks, mandatory onsite solar systems for commercial scopes and condensation mitigation.

Residential energy-efficiency changes and EV-charging provisions, however, will not be introduced at this time; instead, they will appear as voluntary guidance or be deferred.

NCC 2025 is slated for publication by February 1 and jurisdictions will be able to consider adoption from May 1.

The on-ground implementation remains a state and territory decision.

Industry stakeholders welcomed the decision as a pragmatic approach to address the housing shortfall by stabilising the regulatory environment, enabling builders to commit with greater confidence.

The Property Council of Australia said the changes would provide the industry with the confidence to deliver city-shaping assets and meet important quality and sustainability standards.

PCA chief executive Mike Zorbas said after consultation with the industry on the commercial measures of this year’s update, the endorsement struck a balance and provided industry with the assurance to continue building high-quality, world-class assets.

“The building ministers’ endorsement recognises the innovation in Australian commercial projects and will support the continued advancement of quality, safety and sustainability standards,” he said.

“At the same time, the brief pause on further changes to the NCC on residential construction provides the opportunity to simplify an otherwise complex code, ensure proper state buy-in and make building new homes easier.

▲ Property Council of Australia chief executive Mike Zorbas said the changes would bring confidence to the industry.
 

“Collaboration with governments and industry will be vital in ensuring the recalibration of the NCC works for all asset classes and is fit-for-purpose and universally adopted.

“National consistency is key to creating an efficient property sector and meeting important quality, sustainability and safety standards.”

The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) chief executive Davina Rooney said the agreed reforms built on years of collaboration between governments, industry and technical experts to strengthen building standards.

“The National Construction Code is one of Australia’s most powerful tools for improving building performance and reducing emissions across our homes and workplaces,” Rooney said.

“We welcome the inclusion of new provisions ... including improved water management, carpark energy-efficiency measures, solar readiness, and support for healthier, safer buildings.”

Rooney said the pause on residential changes should be used as an opportunity to plan ahead for future upgrades that align with national climate and housing goals.

“We appreciate the focus on stability in the housing sector, but this must go hand-in-hand with a clear national plan for improving home performance and resilience,” she said.

“This pause should be used to set a clear and co-ordinated roadmap for future updates, ensuring that when residential changes resume, they continue Australia’s journey toward low-cost, low-carbon, and climate-ready homes.”

The GBCA also welcomed the Australian Building Codes Board’s embodied carbon guidance as an encouraging first step and looks forward to working with governments to build on this work through future code updates to further support Australia’s transition to net zero.