Submission on Streamlining and Modernising the National Construction Code

The Australian Local Government Association welcomes the release of the interim report on streamlining and modernising the National Construction Code (NCC). Councils see first-hand how the Code’s structure, accessibility and governance settings can either support or slow approvals, add to compliance burden, and affect confidence and investment in housing delivery.

ALGA is pleased to see the interim report reflect several of the recommendations on behalf of councils contained in ALGA’s feedback submission, including a clear focus on:

• Stronger governance and evidence-based decision-making – including more rigorous, transparent processes for assessing changes and their impacts
• Reducing complexity and ambiguity – with an emphasis on clearer drafting and a Code that is easier to interpret and apply in practice
• Removing barriers to access – including addressing paywalls on referenced standards so legally required material is readily available to practitioners and regulators
• Greater national consistency – including a strengthened approach to rationalising state and territory variations where they add unnecessary cost and confusion
• A more user-centred, digital-first NCC – improving navigation, search and usability so the Code aligns with real regulatory and industry workflows
• Supporting innovation and modern methods of construction – including clearer, more consistent settings that help unlock modular and prefabricated housing while maintaining safety and quality.

ALGA will continue to advocate for the interim report’s next stages to also address the remaining issues raised by local government, including: a formal, structured role for councils and building regulators in drafting and testing proposed changes against live regulatory workflows; stronger integrity settings for performance solutions, including nationally consistent minimum evidence requirements and exploring mechanisms to reduce repeated reassessments (such as a national register of commonly used, verified solutions); and a clear implementation and transition approach that recognises workforce constraints, provides practical training and realistic timeframes, and avoids shifting unfunded compliance costs and risk onto councils.