Builders are calling on the Queensland government to postpone new housing regulations, citing labour shortages and increased costs that have doubled construction times since the pandemic began. Master Builders Queensland chief executive Paul Bidwell said delaying the new accessibility and energy efficiency standards until next year could lower costs and ease industry pressures.
The new regulations, set to take effect in October, would require step-free entries, wider doors, and higher energy ratings for new homes. Bidwell argued that the state government has few options to address the crisis, but postponing these changes could help. However, accessibility advocate Margaret Ward described the push as 'mischievous in the extreme,' noting that the code was developed through decades of consultation.
Industry figures report that high-set homes now take 12 months to build instead of six, while low-set homes have stretched from three to four months to six or eight months. AVID Property Group Queensland general manager Bruce Harper said delays could persist for at least another six months as the backlog moves through the system.
Disability advocates, including John Mayo from Spinal Life Australia, argue that accessibility changes involve minimal costs and no new techniques. They say delaying the code would postpone essential standards that benefit a broad cross-section of the community, including families with ageing parents.
