Government leadership helps to foster resilience, reduce our emissions, encourage innovation and sustainably build productivity over the long term. Leading by example and implementing coordinated, targeted policies and programs can help our buildings and industry to achieve their full potential.
Advocacy is a key pillar of the GBCA’s work to lead the sustainable transformation of the built environment.
We work with all three tiers of government to influence policy settings and drive better outcomes for the built environment. GBCA members include departments and agencies from jurisdictions across Australia as well as more than 30 local councils.
Our advocacy efforts support GBCA’s five strategic priority areas, and we work closely with government to encourage and support strong sustainability leadership. Through direct engagement with key political and public service stakeholders, participation in numerous consultations, and advocacy for policies and programs that support GBCA’s vision and purpose, we have seen significant announcements and commitments made across all tiers of government.
Advocating for action in GBCA’s five strategic priority areas includes:
Encouraging governments to commit to building climate resilient, carbon positive buildings (highly efficient, electrified with renewables, low embodied carbon, built with nature, with high integrity carbon offsets where necessary). Supporting government policy development and programs that encourage or require industry to do the same.
Calling for commitment to more affordable and more sustainable social housing – both new and existing. Supporting government policy, regulation and programs that encourage or require industry to build better, more sustainable homes.
Advocating for governments to make smarter investments into social infrastructure. This includes commitments to ensure social infrastructure - such as hospitals, schools, sporting and cultural facilities - deliver better outcomes for the environment, reduce operational costs and maximise social connection.
Encouraging governments to leverage their procurement power to lift demand and supply of more circular and responsible products in the supply chain. This includes advocating for commitment to more sustainable government projects, embedding targets for circular and responsible products and practices into government procurement, and for government to promote and support circular opportunities throughout the Australian economy
Government is a key user of Green Star and valued contributor to Green Star Future Focus. This is the GBCA’s program to update Green Star rating tools to ensure that they will help to deliver buildings, fitouts and precincts that go beyond net zero carbon to achieve Climate Positive outcomes, as well as responding to global megatrends and emerging challenges.
The ACT Government will continue to advocate for national buildings policies that lead to greater sustainability, innovation, and improve quality of life outcomes for a cleaner and climate-friendly future.
Rebecca Vassarotti MLA, ACT Minister for Sustainable Building & Construction
Every Building Counts
In 2023, GBCA and the Property Council of Australia released, ‘Every Building Counts’, a policy platform that calls on all tiers of governments to play their part in shaping a green, healthier, and more equitable built environment. The report outlines recommendations across eight themes to help Australia achieve its decarbonisation goals. In Australia, the built environment accounts for over 50% of the country’s electricity and almost 25% of emissions. However, our property sector is a global leader in sustainability and so we are well positioned to deliver high-impact, but cost-effective ways of reducing carbon and improving energy performance.
Pictured L-R: Jenny Edwards, Managing Director, Light House ArchiScience; Davina Rooney, CEO, GBCA; Rebecca Vassarotti MLA, ACT Minister for Sustainable Building and Construction; Alison Scotland, CEO, ASBEC.
Read Every Building Counts
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