This week, the Housing Industry Association (HIA) released its 2026 Planning Blueprint Scorecard, leading the Planning Institute of Australia to clap back on these “scores”, calling them out for putting out a confusing message that can be mistaken for actual planning system performance.
The HIA “scorecard” called out states “stuck in a business as usual” approach compared to those “embracing bold reforms”, praising states “overhauling their outdated planning system”.
Executive director for planning and development, Sam Heckel, banged the drum on housing supply and claimed the national cabinet was “disconnected” with the “ground reality of local government delays and restrictive zoning.”
But the PIA responded that the “scorecards” only rate the intensity of the government reform agendas and announcements and don’t actually measure how the planning systems are performing in practice. Nor whether they produce desired outcomes.
The institute said if jurisdictions are judged primarily on reform announcements rather than on delivering results, it will stifle genuine and useful public debate.
Chief executive Matt Collins said a scorecard should tell the public whether the system is working, “not simply how many reform announcements have been made.”
“If we genuinely want to lift housing delivery, we need to be honest about where the delays and blockages occur in the housing delivery pipeline, and we need to measure that consistently and accurately.”
Instead, Collins suggests the federal government should lead a national dashboard which shows housing data on planning and building approvals, construction commencements, completion times and housing delivery constraints.
“Until we can see the full picture across the country, we’re debating reform activity instead of evaluating performance. We need to track the policy and funding settings that genuinely improve housing outcomes.”
Design Matters appointed exclusive accreditors of NatHERS for existing homes
Building Design and Energy Efficiency Assessor community group, Design Matters National, has been appointed the exclusive provider of accreditation services for the Nationwide Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) for existing home assessors.
Traditionally, the scheme has only been available for rating new homes and major renovations; however, last year, the government worked with several banks to trial the first tranche of homes to disclose potential energy consumption. The new appointment means the community group starting in April 2026 will assess applications for accreditation and oversee the performance of NatHERS existing home assessors. It is also one of the three organisations assigned to accrediting NatHERS new homes assessors.
Help keep our cities cool – a minute or two for your thoughts
Sweltering Cities, a not for profit advocacy for cooler cities, is calling for submissions for the summer survey it conducts every two years. The survey asks questions relating to the hot weather, surviving heat, health and homes.
It’s a powerful tool to demonstrate the breadth and the severity of the impact of extreme heat, the organisation said in a statement.
Whether it’s someone who’s experienced hot weather, someone with an idea on how to cool communities or someone likely to be involved in future campaigns, all responses are welcome. Submissions close at the end of the month.
Carter Williamson celebrates 21 years
Carter Williamson Architects has recently celebrated its 21 years of practice at Sydney’s Hinchcliff House, a former wool store adapted by the architects in collaboration with AMP Capital to become a heritage hospitality venue.
Founder and principal Shaun Carter said since starting in 2004 from his home studio, the practice has remained firm on its belief that architecture must contribute meaningfully to the street, city and civic life.
The firm now has more than 20 staff working across a portfolio of housing, commercial and public architecture.
The firm got its first commendation from the Australian Institute of Architects in the early 2010s and its first state award in 2013. More recently, it won a design competition for The Angophora, a mixed-use development for 260 apartments across two towers in Chatswood.
The EV revolution continues
A new report finds that the EV market has exceeded forecasts and grown 38 per cent in 2025 from 2024 numbers, totalling 156,958 sales in Australia, thanks to an influx of infrastructure, price drops and providers’ large-scale fleet transitions.
The report from EV charging supplier and installer JETCharge finds that Australia’s hate of small vehicles continues, with only small passenger vehicle sales going backwards due to price sensitivities.
Despite having only 45 models available, Medium SUV sales took the majority, with market share increasing from 16 per cent in 2024 to 27 per cent in 2025. Ute sales also blasted through the roof, with just 362 sales to 20,622 sales in 2025, probably thanks to BYD’s new Shark model.
With many cars now at cost parity with internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, large-scale EV uptake is expected to continue into the next year, and “set the pace for the transition,” Kristian Handberg, the head of future business, said. For example, the BYD Atto now sells for $23,990 plus on-road costs.
Even the Australian Energy Market Operator’s most conservative estimate puts sales around 240,000 vehicles in 2026.