From a tome to a pamphlet: Liberal vows to demolish building code

Liberal housing spokesperson Andrew Bragg has pledged to reduce the National Construction Code from over 2,000 pages to just 80 pages if elected to office. The current building code is estimated to add thousands of dollars to the cost of each newly constructed home. Much of the code's complexity stems from inconsistencies across states and territories, which the federal government lacks authority to alter.

During a speech at the National Press Club, Bragg will argue that the present regulations demand extravagant houses, which are financially unfeasible. In a significant overhaul, he plans to transform every aspect except for basic safety standards into an optional addition, including accessibility and energy efficiency requirements.

Bragg asserts that while houses under the shorter code won't be "gold plated," they will still be safe and comply with essential structural, fire safety, and health-related standards. The federal government has already been working to streamline the code, with Treasurer Jim Chalmers stating that they are making it easier and faster to build by pausing the code and collaborating with states and the industry.

However, industry groups contend that complicated regulations escalate the cost of new homes. Evidence from a Senate inquiry chaired by Bragg revealed that the last seven years of code modifications added $3,600 to $33,000 to the cost of a new house. While the federal government has frozen the code, it is currently taking measures to simplify it in coordination with the building industry.