10 Dec 2025
With Shay Singh, Head of Policy GBCA
The second half of 2025 was as eventful as anticipated. With key updates to the National Construction Code (NCC) finalised this past October, these reforms promise long-term benefits for the environment, building occupants and asset owners, provided states and territories implement the changes in a timely manner. The NCC remains one of the most powerful tools we have for shaping a more sustainable and resilient built environment in Australia.
The inclusion of new provisions for commercial buildings such as improved water management, carpark fire safety and electrification and solar readiness are all positive steps forward. However, progress in our industry often requires s a careful balancing act. There are several provisions we would have liked to see included in NCC 2025, particularly EV readiness in residential dwellings and a voluntary pathway for embodied carbon reporting.
These updates reflect ongoing advocacy and collaboration across industry and government. At the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), we remain committed to ensuring the NCC supports buildings that are affordable, sustainable, resilient and safe. We encourage projects and industry to lead - whether by achieving best practice or demonstrating world leadership standards. However, strong minimum standards provide the foundation to ensure our homes and buildings can meet the needs and challenges of today and the future.
As our climate rapidly changes, and pressures on housing, energy demand and supply increase, I am acutely aware that our standards cannot be allowed to stagnate. In the commercial sector, I believe the industry is well placed to respond to the updates in NCC 2025. Through Green Star, we see projects and organisations exceeding the bar every day with change and innovation rapidly adopted.
When it comes to the residential sector, Building Ministers decided to pause further updates to the NCC, except for essential quality and safety measures, until mid-2029. And while I am always eager for improvement in the face of a changing climate, I also recognise that a strategic pause can create space to realign and collaborate on the best way forward. If we are serious about progress towards better, without leaving anyone behind, this balance is essential.
During this pause, I hope to see jurisdictions and industry collaborate to streamline and improve the usability of the NCC, ensuring it delivers practical outcomes for households, small businesses and hard-working tradespeople across Australia. Removing barriers for modern methods of construction, such as prefab and modular housing, can deliver cost savings through built in resource efficiency.
What will not pause during this time is our advocacy.
GBCA will continue to advocate for a NCC that supports a built environment that is prepared for a net zero future, while maintaining a string focus on safety and affordability as the code continues to modernise. Our priorities include ensuring the timely and consistent implementation of NCC 2025, and a renewed commitment across all jurisdictions for developing and executing NCC 2029. This consistency is critical to providing certainty for industry, supporting investment decisions, and delivering benefits to households and businesses nationwide.
As we head into the festive season and a new year, my hope is that we make good use of the pause. We have well and truly entered a period of history where there is no time to waste.