Senate Inquiry must focus on delivering more housing, not more reports
HIA has welcomed a new Senate inquiry into social housing, calling it a chance to identify real reforms. The association wants the inquiry to focus on actionable outcomes rather than producing more reports.
Will the Senate housing inquiry actually lead to more construction work for tradies?
Builders and related trades could see changes to housing supply policy affecting project pipelines and workloads. More social housing approvals would mean more work for builders, plumbers, and electricians.
Key takeaways
- HIA has backed a new Senate Economics Committee inquiry into social housing.
- The association wants the inquiry to deliver real reforms, not just more reports.
- More social housing construction would boost workloads for builders and related trades.
- The outcome of the inquiry could influence housing supply policy across Australia.
Related
Inquiry into the financial and operational performance of TasWater
HIA's Tasmanian Executive Director Benjamin Price addressed the Public Accounts Committee regarding TasWater's financial and operational performance. The statement covers issues relevant to the water utility's impact on the building and construction industry in Tasmania.
Why it matters: Builders and plumbers in Tasmania may be affected by TasWater's performance, including connection delays, infrastructure capacity, and cost impacts on new developments.
Brick supply and allocation update
HIA is working with government and manufacturers on brick supply and allocation issues affecting home building in WA. No specific outcomes or changes have been announced yet.
Why it matters: Builders in WA may face ongoing project delays due to brick shortages. Supply constraints can affect scheduling, contract timelines, and cash flow.
Preparing for the card surcharge ban
From 1 October 2026, card surcharges will be banned in Australia. Builders, contractors and suppliers must update their pricing, contracts and payment systems before the deadline.
Why it matters: Affects builders, plumbers, electricians and all trade contractors who currently pass card fees to customers. They must absorb or restructure costs before October 2026.