A commitment by the Federal Opposition to put a freeze on implementing the National Construction Code (NCC) for 10 years could spell disaster for Australia’s built environment.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton unveiled a suite of policies last month aimed at boosting housing supply in Australia, including a freeze on the NCC.
Dutton said it would reduce costs by halting further requirements for energy efficiency, safety and amenity in new houses.
The Insulation Council of Australia and New Zealand (ICANZ) said the freeze would mean substandard housing for at least the next 50 to 80 years.
ICANZ CEO Janine Strachan said halting thermal efficiency upgrades in the NCC in the face of a changing climate is locking Australians into higher energy costs, increased cost of living and increased health impacts.
“This appears to be policy formed on the run and without industry consultation,” she said.
“What the Opposition has ignored in their policy is that the ongoing energy savings and health benefits of occupants who will live in more climate resilient homes.”
Strachan said Australian governments need to seriously consider the implications of the 2024 State of the Climate report released by CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology.
“The report is yet another reminder that we are in the midst of a challenging and constantly changing climate event,” she said.
Strachan said every decade since 1950 has been warmer than preceding decades.
She said this shift is accompanied by an increased number of extreme heat events across all months, including a greater frequency of very hot days in summer."
“The focus should be on regulating for resilient homes to mitigate the impacts of climate change across the built environment,” she said.