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The RBA Has Lifted the Cash Rate to 4.85%, the Highest Since 2008, and HIA Says New Home Sales Are at an 18-Month Low. Here's How Builders Should Protect Cash Flow.

The RBA raised the cash rate to 4.85% on 3 November in a split six-to-three vote. Here's what HIA and Master Builders said, what the data shows and the desk moves for builders.

House Construction Input Costs Rose 3.9% in a Year, the Fastest in Three Years, With Electrical Gear Up 14.5%. Here's How Builders Should Re-Price Now.

The ABS Producer Price Index for the September quarter shows input costs climbing faster than the prices house builders can charge. Here are the numbers, what's driving them, what Master Builders said and the desk moves for builders.

HIA and Master Builders Join Welfare Groups to Demand a 20-Year Social Housing Plan: 6% of Homes by 2050, About 23,000 Extra a Year. Here's What It Means for Your Pipeline.

The National Affordable Housing Alliance took a single platform to Canberra on 29 October, backed by builders, property, community housing and welfare groups. Here are the targets, the four priorities, what the builder groups said and the desk moves for builders.

WA's Draft R-Codes Are Out: Granny Flats Up to 90 Square Metres With No Parking Minimum, and 70,000 More Perth Lots Able to Subdivide. Keep Building to Today's Codes and Get Your Submission In by 26 February.

The Western Australian Planning Commission has opened consultation on draft Residential Design Codes that would lift granny flat limits, scrap average lot sizes for R10 to R25 in Perth and Peel, and add new mid and high rise apartment codes. Nothing changes for current applications, and the final codes aren't expected to start taking effect until mid to late 2027.

HIA Trades Report: Trade Prices Up 6.6% in a Year, the Fastest in Four Years, and Every Market Is Still Short. Re-Check Your Trade Rates and Book Bricklayers Early.

HIA's September quarter Trades Report shows skilled trade shortages persisting across every market and every trade, led by bricklaying, tiling, carpentry and roofing, with electrical shortages worsening fast. New home sales are falling, but HIA says the work already on the ground will keep trades in demand this year.

QBCC Puts Fixed-Price Contract Exposure on Its Builder Viability Watch List as Queensland House Prices Rise 8% in a Year. Re-Check Every Open Quote Before You Sign.

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission's 20 October guidance names fixed-price contract exposure as a significant industry risk where costs keep climbing after signing. With ABS data showing Queensland house construction prices up 8.0% over the year and Cotality's index back to 1.0% quarterly growth, the desk job is pricing risk before the contract, not after.

HIA Housing 100: Australia's Biggest Builders Started 70,553 Homes in 2025/26 — Only the Fifth Year Above 70,000. But New Home Sales Fell 19.3% and HIA Says Don't Read It as the Outlook.

The HIA Housing 100 Report, released on 21 October 2026, shows the largest 100 builders took 35% of the market last year, down from 36%, as smaller builders picked up volume. HIA warns the result is rearward-looking: new home sales fell 19.3% in the three months to August and the cash rate hit 4.6% in September. The desk job now is converting the pipeline.

Queensland's $2.4 Billion Infrastructure Activation Fund Is Open: $798m in Grants and Nearly $1.6bn in Interest-Free Loans for the Roads, Water and Sewer That Hold Up New Estates. Applications Close 30 November.

Applications opened on 19 October 2026 for the joint Queensland and Australian Government Infrastructure Activation Fund, which offers $399 million in grants from each government and nearly $1.6 billion in Commonwealth-backed interest-free loans for catalyst infrastructure. EDQ says it will unlock about 51,368 homes over eight years, 20,547 of them supporting first home buyers. Developers, councils, utilities and state agencies can apply until 2pm AEST on 30 November.

Every Government Has Now Signed Up to Modernise the National Construction Code — Digital, AI-Ready, One National Market. No Dates Yet and the Residential Pause Holds to Mid-2029. Keep Building to Today's Code and Get Your Pain Points In.

Commonwealth, state and territory housing, planning and building ministers agreed a shared statement on 16 October 2026 committing to modernise the National Construction Code under five reform directions: simpler digital access, one national market, governance and cost–benefit reform, pathways for modular and other innovative methods, and cheaper risk-based compliance. The ABCB will begin preliminary work, but there are no dates, and the pause on residential NCC changes until mid-2029 still applies.

Victoria Wants Its 20,000 Carpenters Registered or Licensed — and Builders Would Have to Check. MBV and HIA Push Back. Map Your Carpentry Crew Before the Draft Rules Land.

Victoria's Department of Transport and Planning closed consultation on 11 October 2026 on a scheme to bring around 20,000 carpenters under the Building and Plumbing Commission through subcontractor registration and employee licensing. Builders would have to make sure only registered or licensed carpenters work on their projects. Master Builders Victoria and HIA have published submissions opposing the model. No start date or regulations exist yet; DTP will report back in early 2027.

Queensland's WorkCover and IR Overhaul Is in Parliament: a 'Fit and Proper' Test for Right of Entry and a Tighter Psych-Injury Bar. Brief Site Managers Before the Bill Moves.

On 14 October 2026 the Queensland Government released its response to the industrial relations and workers' compensation review — 75 of 104 recommendations accepted in full — and introduced the Industrial Relations and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026. It proposes a fit and proper person test for union officials seeking right of entry, limits on disruption to major projects, tougher WorkCover fraud penalties and a stricter test for psychological injury claims. It is not yet law.

SafeWork NSW's Largest Psychosocial Blitz Is Live — and Construction Is One of the Four Industries Getting Help. Put Programme Pressure on Your WHS Register.

SafeWork NSW announced a six-week statewide psychosocial hazards compliance operation on 9 October 2026, its largest yet. Construction is among the top four industries seeking psychosocial assistance. Inspectors will look for evidence that risks from work design — long hours, unclear roles, conflict — are identified, consulted on and controlled. NSW codes of practice, including Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work, have been binding since 1 July 2026.

The 30% Trust Tax Bill Is Due in Parliament Today. Before Any Builder Restructures, Check What It Does to Your Licence and Home Warranty Cover.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers is due to introduce the 30% minimum tax on discretionary trusts in Parliament on 14 October 2026. It would start on 1 July 2028, with roll-over relief from 1 July 2027. HIA says around three in five of its members operate through a family trust, and Master Builders estimates a $400,000 family builder could face restructuring costs of $82,000 to $175,000. HIA also warns that tax relief on a restructure may not carry over a builder’s licence, home warranty eligibility or construction limits.

Treasurer Delays the ATO Credit Card Ban to 30 June 2027 After Small Business Backlash. Builders Get More Runway to Move Tax Off the Card.

On 9 October 2026 the Government said it will fund the ATO to keep accepting credit card payments for tax until 30 June 2027, instead of stopping from 1 December. Master Builders welcomed the delay but still wants the ban scrapped, saying small builders were given just two months’ notice. About 5% of small businesses paid tax by credit card in 2024–25. After 30 June 2027 cards will only work through third-party providers, so builders who lean on the card for BAS should plan the switch now.

HIA: Two Years In, the Housing Accord Is 94,980 Homes Behind and States Missed $11 Billion in Tax. June-Quarter Starts Rose 7%, but 2027 Is the Test.

The ABS June 2026 quarter Building Activity release, out on 7 October, closed the first two full years of the 1.2 million homes target. HIA says commencements leave Australia 94,980 dwellings behind, costing an estimated $45 billion in activity and about $11 billion in stamp duty and GST. Seasonally adjusted starts rose 7.0% to 52,201 in the quarter, led by houses, but HIA says that reflects 2025 sales and the effect of this year’s rate rises and Budget housing tax changes will show on site in 2027.

WA Falls Rule Switches to Regulation 79 for High Risk Construction — Inspectors Want a Genuine Effort Now, With an Education Window to 31 March 2027. Recast Your SWMS.

From Thursday 1 October 2026, regulation 79 of Western Australia’s Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 applies to high risk construction work, ending the transitional arrangement that kept the old OSH regulation 3.55 in force. WorkSafe WA’s statement of regulatory intent, valid to 31 March 2027, says inspectors may educate and/or enforce, and will expect a genuine effort and controls equivalent to or better than the old rules. Recast SWMS, site checks and subbie briefings around the regulation 79 hierarchy this month.

Master Builders Cuts Five-Year Home Starts Forecast to Under 920,000 — 62,000 Fewer Than March. Recast Your Book Toward Steadier Segments.

On Wednesday 1 October 2026 Master Builders Australia released forecasts downgrading all three segments of building and construction since March. Over the five years to 2030-31 it now projects fewer than 920,000 new home starts (an 8.4 per cent write-down and 62,000 fewer starts than March), $331 billion of non-residential work and $688 billion of engineering construction, with a 262,000-home deficit over the National Housing Accord. House approvals are still at a five-year high on HIA’s read of the August ABS data — plan the 2027 book on forward signals, not last month’s approvals.

HIA: New Home Sales Hit Lowest in More Than a Year. Recast 2027 Commencement Books Off the Sales Print.

On Tuesday 15 September 2026 the Housing Industry Association said sales of new homes declined for a fourth consecutive month to their lowest level in more than a year, with Chief Economist Tim Reardon stating that a housing market slowdown is now set for 2027. Nationally, sales fell 10.0 per cent in August and were 19.3 per cent lower in the three months to August than the previous quarter (and 7.7 per cent lower than a year earlier). State declines over that three-month window were led by Victoria (−27.0%), Queensland (−20.2%), New South Wales (−17.5%), South Australia (−10.8%) and Western Australia (−8.2%). Recast 2027 commencement books off today’s sales pipeline — not off current work-in-hand alone.

HIA: Residential Construction Short ~83,000 Skilled Tradies. Recast Housing Targets Off Crew Reality.

On 16–18 September 2026 the Housing Industry Association released Australia’s Future is Built by Tradies, estimating the residential building industry is already around 83,000 skilled workers short. The report was launched at Parliament House ahead of National Tradies Day (18 September) and names five priorities spanning trade status, apprenticeships, employer support, school-to-trade pathways and workforce capacity. Skills Minister Andrew Giles said the Key Apprenticeship Program had signed up 38,948 housing-trade apprentices over 14 months, with around 73,000 Free TAFE enrolments in construction-related courses. Recast commencement calendars off available crews — not off approvals alone.

HIA Welcomes HAFF Stream 5 Opening for Class 1 Homes — Up to 1,000 Social and Affordable. Recast Shovel-Ready Pipeline Off the 2027 Dates.

On 14 September 2026 the Housing Industry Association welcomed the opening of a new Housing Australia Future Fund stream for shovel-ready, well-located low-density Class 1 projects. Housing Australia is targeting up to 1,000 social and affordable homes in fixed packages of 200 dwellings (100 social + 100 affordable), with completion by 31 December 2027. Treasury’s capability assessment sets funding approvals by 1 February 2027 and main works commence by 1 May 2027. Recast tender books and CHP partnership talks off those published dates — not off a generic Round 3 hope.

Industry Modelling: Housing Package Estimated to Cut 10,700 Homes and Lift Rents ~$10/Week. Recast Pipeline Off the Updated Print.

On 11 September 2026 the Housing Industry Association, Master Builders Australia, the Property Council of Australia and the Real Estate Institute of Australia released updated independent modelling of the Federal Budget housing package. Qaive and Tulipwood Economics now estimate that between 2026–27 and 2029–30 the combined measures reduce new dwelling starts by 10,700, lift rents by about $10 a week, cut cumulative GDP by about $1.05 billion, and remove more than 4,700 construction jobs. Recast tender books and labour plans off that published print — not off the Government’s claimed upside alone.

ABS July Dwelling Approvals Fell 3.6% to 17,687 — Trend Still Up 0.8%. Recast Pipeline Planning Off the Monthly Dip Alone.

The ABS released July 2026 building approvals on 1 September 2026: seasonally adjusted total dwellings approved fell 3.6% to 17,687 after a 6.9% June rise. Private sector houses fell 4.2% to 10,199; dwellings excluding houses slipped 0.4% to 7,119. The yearly comparison remained +9.0%, and the trend estimate for total dwellings still rose 0.8% to 18,365. HIA published the same day, noting the three months to July were still 8.3% above a year earlier. Recast pipeline and labour planning off both the monthly and trend prints — not off the headline dip alone.

Safe Work Australia: Average 2025 WHS Penalty Hit a Record $147,985 — Construction Still 43% of Cases. Recast Your Site Governance Off Case Counts Alone.

Safe Work Australia updated its national WHS prosecutions dashboard on 1 September 2026 with 2025 figures: prosecutions fell to 308 from 321, but 99% drew a financial penalty and the average penalty rose 33% to a record $147,985. Construction remained the largest defendant industry at 43% of cases, ahead of manufacturing (20%) and mining (6%). Trade press amplified the print on 8 September. Recast board and site WHS governance off falling case counts — the dollar print is moving the other way.

HIA Welcomes $150m Forestry Growth Fund — 70% of House Frames Still Timber. Recast Materials Planning Off Import Hope Alone.

On Friday 4 September 2026 the Housing Industry Association welcomed the Federal Government's $150 million Forestry Growth Fund, saying secure timber supply is critical to building the homes Australia needs. HIA Chief Executive Industry & Policy Simon Croft said more than 70 per cent of house frames are constructed using timber and you cannot build 1.2 million homes without securing the materials. The program covers five streams; Croft highlighted $15 million for plantation establishment and $115 million for modern processing and innovation. Recast framing and procurement calendars on domestic fibre — not on the hope that offshore supply stays soft.

Master Builders Future Workforce Blueprint: Four Levers vs a 935,600 Shortfall by 2035. Recast Labour Planning Off Training Alone.

Master Builders Australia released its Future Workforce Blueprint on Monday 7 September 2026. Modelling says four priority levers can deliver almost 40,000 additional qualified workers over the next decade against a shortage of 141,000 skilled workers. CEO Denita Wawn said the reforms would cut the annual shortfall by 3,590–5,720 workers a year over and above activating 18,400 construction-qualified people already in Australia, while losing over 50% of apprentices before completion remains a core failure. Do nothing and MBA puts $242 billion of infrastructure and housing construction at risk with a cumulative shortage of 935,600 by 2035. Recast crew planning, RPL mapping and apprentice retention on those prints.

HIA Affordability Index Hits Record Low in June Quarter 2026. Falling Established Prices Do Not Make New Homes Cheaper to Build.

HIA released its Affordability Report on Friday 4 September 2026. Senior Economist Tom Devitt said the HIA Affordability Index deteriorated 3.1 per cent in the June quarter 2026 — the least affordable reading since HIA records began in 1994. It now takes 1.9 average incomes to comfortably service a mortgage on a median dwelling in the capitals and 1.8 in the regions. Every market deteriorated in the quarter. Devitt warned three consecutive monthly declines in new-home contracts and that falling established prices do not cut land, labour or materials costs. Recast feasibility and the deposit book before you treat a softer secondary market as build-cost relief.

PSO Says Australia Needs 72,000 More Energy Trades by 2030. Data Centres Alone Want 13,000 — Recast Your Electrical Book Against Housing.

ABC reported on 2 September 2026 that the Powering Skills Organisation's latest report lifts the energy-trades shortage forecast to 72,000 electricians, technicians and related trades by 2030 — up from 42,000 in last year's print. Treasury-linked data centre construction is put at about $150 billion by decade end and needs a further 13,000 energy trades. NECA CEO Stewart Joyce said housing will feel the squeeze without coordinated labour planning. Recast crew and quote rates before hyperscale books empty your electrical bench.

July Approvals Fell 3.6% to 17,687. Recast Crew Off June's House Print — Private Houses Dropped in Every State.

ABS Building Approvals for July 2026, released 1 September 2026 at 11:30am AEST, put seasonally adjusted total dwellings at 17,687, down 3.6 per cent. Private sector houses fell 4.2 per cent to 10,199 across every published state. Private other dwellings fell 0.4 per cent to 7,119. Head of construction statistics Daniel Rossi said the house fall came off June, which had the most private houses approved since September 2021. HIA Senior Economist Tom Devitt said three-month approvals are still 8.3 per cent higher than a year earlier.

Queensland Recovery Is Pushed to Late 2027. Recast Crew Off March Demand — HIA Says Commencements Do Not Lift Until Then.

HIA Queensland Executive Director Michael Roberts, speaking Monday 31 August 2026 after the Economic and Industry Outlook, said strong underlying demand is colliding with restrictive finance, weaker confidence and policy changes. March quarter detached starts fell 6.7 per cent to 5,930 and multi-unit 8.0 per cent to 4,940. HIA does not expect dwelling commencements to begin recovering until late 2027.

Victoria's Recovery Is Delayed a Year. Recast Crew Off 60,000 Homes in 2026 — HIA Says You Will Not Cross That Until 2028.

HIA Victoria Executive Director Keith Ryan, speaking Monday 31 August 2026 after the Economic and Industry Outlook, said federal housing-tax and SMSF-borrowing changes delay Victoria's home building recovery at least another year. Victoria commenced 56,630 homes in 2025. The 60,000 threshold is now not expected until 2028. The state's 80,000-a-year target is not expected to be met in any single year.