We asked Davina Rooney how she saw the challenge of the National Construction Code and other green rating tools at this critical point in the evolution of the green building industry. Here’s what she told us.
From our perspective, this is a really important moment. Australia is trying to tackle both a climate challenge and a housing affordability challenge at the same time, and the National Construction Code (NCC) sits right in the middle of that.
The decisions we make now will shape how comfortable, safe and affordable our homes and buildings are to use and operate for decades.
As temperatures rise, people are already feeling the impact in homes through heat stress, higher running costs and growing concerns about extreme weather.
The code needs to respond to that reality. Strengthening resilience settings, continuing progress on efficiency and starting to deal more directly with upfront carbon are all part of making sure new buildings perform better in the real world, not just on paper.
We do recognise that implementing recent updates has been difficult in some parts of the country. The delay to finalising the 2025 Code and the likelihood of extended transition periods have created uncertainty for industry.
But the solution is not to step back or pause progress for long periods. If we slow down too much, we risk locking in buildings that are more expensive to run and less prepared for future conditions.
A key factor in the success of the code is consistency across states and territories, both in what they are committing to and in the timing of implementation.
The NCC relies on agreement between jurisdictions and shared timeframes.
When that alignment slips, it creates confusion for industry, adds cost and reduces the effectiveness of reforms. Clear national direction and coordinated implementation are essential if the code is to deliver the outcomes governments and communities expect.
At the same time, we recognise there are opportunities to improve how it operates. In our recent submission we noted the potential to reduce structural complexity and improve regulatory clarity, which could deliver significant productivity and compliance benefits across the construction sector.
Getting these settings right can help industry implement changes more smoothly while maintaining momentum on performance outcomes.
What would make the biggest difference now is a clear commitment to keep improving the code, alongside stronger governance and increased funding for the Australian Building Codes Board, which manages the NCC.
Expectations on the system are growing, but resourcing has not kept pace. Supporting the ABCB properly will help maintain momentum and reinforce the NCC’s role as a genuine national productivity reform.
Rating tools, including Green Star, have played an important role in establishing a common language and benchmark for performance across the built environment. This has helped bring industry a long way in a relatively short period of time. Both rating tools and the code are ultimately about bringing everyone along together. When there is a shared language, shared direction and shared timing across jurisdictions and industry, reforms are more effective and easier to deliver.
We are always keen to contribute constructively to these discussions and to work with others on shaping the next phase of reform.