<
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/13/coalition-housing-energy-standards-national-construction-code-new-homes>
"A Coalition plan to abolish compulsory energy standards for new homes that
help reduce people’s exposure to heat and cold has been criticised by advocates
as a “cost-of-living timebomb” that would deepen inequality.
The opposition’s housing and environment spokesperson, Andrew Bragg, said a
Coalition government would cut the
National Construction Code from more than
2,000 pages to 80, and strip away all requirements for new homes beyond
demanding they were “basic and safe”. Longstanding compulsory energy and
accessibility measures would become “optional extras”.
Speaking at the National Press Club, Bragg said house construction regulation
was a “nightmare” and accused the Albanese government of making it “illegal to
build a cheap house in Australia”.
“We will cut building costs,” he said.
Asked about the policy on ABC Radio National, the Liberal Treasury
spokesperson, Tim Wilson, said in some cases people could put “a jumper on in
winter rather than spending huge amounts of money” on improving housing
quality.
The Energy Efficiency Council said minimum standards were “not some extraneous
bauble” but made sure homes were safe, comfortable and affordable to run.
“Australians deserve to live in decent housing, not leaky shacks with paper
thin walls,” the council’s chief executive, Luke Menzel, said. “This proposal
is a cost-of-living timebomb … I never thought I’d see an Australian politician
out and about advocating for higher energy bills but here we are.
“If you’re a renter living in western Sydney you had better hope you don’t land
in a home that has been built without energy efficiency measures. You’re going
to need to run your air-conditioners like the clappers to try to keep yourself
cool in summer and your energy bills are going to be through the roof.”"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
