22 Oct 2025
The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) welcomes the finalisation of key reforms under the National Construction Code (NCC) 2025, acknowledging the significant steps taken to improve building quality, safety and environmental performance, while noting the importance of maintaining momentum on Australia’s net zero transition.
GBCA Chief Executive Officer, Davina Rooney, said the agreed reforms build 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,” Ms Rooney said.
“We welcome the inclusion of new provisions in National Construction code 2025, including improved water management, carpark energy efficiency measures, solar readiness, and support for healthier, safer buildings. These are positive steps forward that will deliver long-term benefits to households, businesses and the environment.”
Building Ministers today confirmed that NCC 2025 will be published by February 2026 for adoption from 1 May 2026. Ministers also agreed to pause further residential changes until 2029, except for essential safety measures, while a broader modernisation and streamlining process for the NCC is undertaken.
GBCA welcomed the commitment to simplify and modernise the Code as part of this process.
“A clear, coordinated and easy-to-use Code gives industry the confidence to invest and innovate,” Ms Rooney said.
“Simplifying the NCC while maintaining strong sustainability and safety outcomes is the right focus as we modernise Australia’s building framework.”
Ms 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,” Ms Rooney said.
“This pause should be used to set a clear and coordinated roadmap for future updates, ensuring that when residential changes resume, they continue Australia’s journey toward low-cost, low-carbon, and climate-ready homes.”
GBCA welcomed the Australian Building Codes Board’s (ABCB) 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.
“Embodied carbon makes up around 16% of Australia’s total building emissions, so having national guidance is an essential step toward reducing the carbon impact of materials and construction,” Ms Rooney said.
“We look forward to working with the ABCB, governments and industry to turn that guidance into action — through practical standards, incentives, and pathways that support decarbonisation across both new builds and retrofits.”
Ms Rooney said GBCA would continue to partner with the ABCB and governments to ensure that the modernisation of the NCC supports safe, affordable, sustainable, and resilient buildings for all Australians.