Policy Snapshot - June 2022

Albanese government brings promise of stronger climate action

“This was the climate election and Australians have spoken,” says GBCA Chief Executive Davina Rooney.

GBCA released a statement shortly after the election congratulating Prime Minister Albanese and the Australian Labor Party on their election victory. GBCA looks forward to working closely and productively with the Albanese government to progress strong action that will improve the sustainability of the built environment, reduce emissions and energy bills, respond to the impacts of climate change and improve the safety and comfort of Australian homes and cities. GBCA noted in particular Prime Minister Albanese has made a range of commitments to climate action, including reducing the Australian Public Service’s emissions to net zero by 2030, realising Australia’s potential as a renewable energy superpower and delivering affordable, sustainable housing.

GBCA's Federal Government priorities

In the lead-up to the federal election, GBCA released its federal election platform. This document sets out 12 necessary, practical and achievable steps the new Albanese government can take, and will underpin our early engagement with them. The recommendations are split across the following themes:

• Growing the economy, shrinking our emissions
• Better housing for all Australians
• A climate-resilient built environment
• Infrastructure that delivers for cities and communities.

Collaborative infrastructure planning for a more sustainable Queensland

The Queensland Government has released the State Infrastructure Strategy 2022 which presents the vision for government infrastructure requirements over the next two decades. GBCA is already working with several Queensland Government departments and agencies to help deliver more sustainable social infrastructure and we look forward to supporting a number of the Strategy’s priority actions that will drive greater resilience and sustainability. In particular, sustainable infrastructure for Brisbane 2032, better performing buildings, reducing emissions from infrastructure, sustainability assessments for government infrastructure projects and supporting circular economy opportunities.

Preparing our National Construction Code (NCC) for a net zero future

GBCA has been working with the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB), industry partners, industry experts and our members to provide input to proposed changes to the NCC that will improve the energy efficiency of Australian homes. GBCA supports lifting the performance of building fabric from 6 to 7 stars (NatHERS), including a sufficiently robust pathway for calculating a whole-of-home-energy budget and implementing the changes as soon as possible with a 12-month transition period for industry. The Building Ministers from all Australian jurisdictions will meet in July to decide on the changes and their implementation.

Supporting greater sustainability outcomes in planning

GBCA, with support from the Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, has created resources designed to help local government officers to understand how Green Star and other rating tools can support more sustainable outcomes in the planning system.

Providing input to governments

GBCA regularly provides input to consultations which relate to our purpose and priorities. Most recently, these include the Climate Change Authority’s review of international offsets, Transport for NSW’s sustainable procurement in infrastructure discussion paper, and the Victorian Government’s emission reduction targets for 2035.