Unveiled in December 2024, the new principles build upon the NSW Government’s ‘ten point commitment’ to the construction sector published in 2018.
Consult Australia, through its July 2024 submission, expressed support for the principles' overarching goals.
“We are pleased to see that Consult Australia’s advocacy helped firm up the final principles,” says Consult Australia’s Head of Advocacy and Government Relations Kristy Eulenstein.
Several recommendations put forward by Consult Australia have been incorporated into the final principles. Notably, the importance of early industry engagement is clearly reflected in the government’s commitments and industry ‘asks.’
The call for digital transformation was also acknowledged. “Achieving a digital by default model requires standardisation across agencies and jurisdictions, and this is reflected in the principles.”
The principles also address the need for industry-wide upskilling on decarbonisation. A clear focus on the full lifecycle of assets was a key recommendation made by Consult Australia.
Some areas still require attention. “Our submission underscored the opportunity to better define the role of consultants,” Kristy says. “The absence of acknowledgment regarding the impact of tendering costs on financial sustainability is a point of concern for Consult Australia but also for the Australian Constructors Association.”
The successful delivery of the principles will depend on a strong, collaborative partnership between the government and all participants across the construction industry—from contractors and subcontractors to unions and workers throughout the supply chain.
“Addressing the sector’s unique challenges requires a unified approach and these principles are a welcome step in the right direction,” Kristy concludes.