Australia's housing crisis has sparked a debate about the future of the country's building codes. The Albanese government is pouring millions of dollars into promoting Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) to lift productivity in the construction and housing industries. The National Construction Code (NCC), which has grown to over 2,200 pages, is being reviewed to reduce its size and complexity. Senator Andrew Bragg, the shadow minister for housing, has proposed a radical plan to slash the NCC to just 80-90 pages, creating a 'Basic Australian Standard' that would cover essential structural, fire safety, health, and basic amenity requirements. This plan, inspired by New Zealand's 83-page building code, aims to simplify the code and make it more accessible to low-income earners. However, some groups have criticized Bragg's plan for potentially leading to substandard housing for low-income earners. The HIA, which supports Bragg's plan, argues that New Zealand's building code is underpinned by a broad range of compliance solutions, ensuring that housing remains safe and sound. The Senate committee, chaired by Bragg, has also recommended embracing MMC, prefabricated housing, and modular homes to build houses more cheaply and quickly. The committee's interim report suggests that the federal government should develop a national voluntary certification scheme for manufacturers of prefabricated construction and support the adoption of modular and prefabricated housing. The report also proposes a federal 'pattern book' to fast-track approvals and enable innovation. The future of housing in Australia may look quite different from today, with MMC and prefab housing gaining growing support from industry and building groups. However, the Coalition and Labor may have different visions for what MMC could be used for, with the John Curtin Research Centre advocating for a national strategy to rebuild Australia's manufacturing sector using MMC. As the debate continues, it is clear that the future of Australian housing will depend on the successful implementation of innovative and sustainable building methods.
