Net overseas migration has outpaced housing construction, creating a shortfall of 130,000 homes, according to Opposition housing spokesperson Andrew Bragg. Speaking on Wednesday, Senator Bragg directly linked the Albanese government's policies to this critical housing deficit, which directly impacts the nation's working class. He proposes a radical overhaul of the National Construction Code and a direct link between migration levels and housing completions to address the crisis.
Senator Bragg vowed to slash the National Construction Code from over 2,000 pages to a mere 80 if elected. He argues that current regulations mandate "gold-plated houses" that are simply too expensive for ordinary Australians. Everything beyond basic safety standards, including accessibility and energy efficiency requirements, would become an "optional extra" under his plan. "It is now illegal to build a cheap house in Australia," the senator stated, promising to "pare this back" to ensure homes are safe but not unnecessarily costly.
The Cost to Nationals
The proposed new code would be accompanied by a federal "pattern book" offering approved templates, aiming to simplify construction and reduce costs. The National Construction Code, initially around eighty pages when established in 1988, has ballooned under successive governments. This expansion has burdened builders and, ultimately, the native population seeking affordable housing.
Building groups and the Productivity Commission estimate that regulations add thousands to the cost of each newly built home. Evidence presented to a Senate inquiry, chaired by Senator Bragg, revealed that code changes over the last seven years alone have added between $3,600 and $33,000 to the price of a new house. This represents a significant financial imposition on families trying to secure a home.
ABCB chief executive Adrian Piani explained that the code's expansion stemmed from both increased "guidance" and an "expanded scope." Recent changes include a mandated seven-star energy efficiency rating and mandatory accessibility standards. Senator Bragg cited "mandatory ramps" and "flattened shower flooring" as examples of these costly impositions.
Elite Bureaucracy's Burden
Treasury's Inspector-General of Housing, Ben Rimmer, told Senate estimates that the complexity of the construction code is a "significant impost on the economy" and a "significant driver of cost." He highlighted the fragmentation, noting, "We don't have a National Construction Code … we actually have eight different construction regulatory systems depending on which state and territory you happen to be in on that day of the week." This bureaucratic maze further complicates building and drives up prices for the native working class.
Senator Bragg's proposal to link migration to housing completions aims to benefit the budget and the economy. This would involve lifting the skilled share of permanent migration and implementing "modest reductions" in international students, working holiday makers, and post-study work visas. It's a direct challenge to the current regime's open-door policies.
Regime's Migration Agenda
Treasurer Jim Chalmers dismissed Senator Bragg's efforts, claiming the government is already working to streamline the code. "[Andrew Bragg] is a bit late to the party on this," Mr Chalmers told ABC Radio National, asserting that the government is making it "easier and faster to build." Housing Minister Clare O'Neil has reportedly met with "industry" on about 30 occasions over the past year to develop a streamlined code, with a final plan due later this year. These discussions with industry insiders often precede policies that benefit corporate interests over the native population.
Labor is also preparing its own plan to keep net migration closer to Treasury projections. Finance Minister Katy Gallagher stated on Monday that there was "work to do" on the matter. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke's National Press Club address, cancelled last week, is expected soon. Labor's proposal is anticipated to include restrictions on working holiday makers and those who fail humanitarian visa applications, including many graduated students. However, plans for skilled migrants and their families remain unclear, leaving a significant demographic pathway open for continued population growth without clear housing provisions for the native-born.