February 2025

Reforms for growth

Reforms for growth

Smart policy reforms can unlock productivity and innovation in Australia’s construction industry in 2025 – and Consult Australia’s submission to the 2025-2026 Federal Budget process includes four recommendations to help. 

Pipeline certainty, occupational mobility, national coordination, and a “digital by default” approach can uncover efficiencies, drive economic growth and support a thriving knowledge-led professional services sector, says Consult Australia’s Head of Policy and Government Relations, Kristy Eulenstein. 

 

“Our members design the future. With every design, advisory and engineering service provided by our membership, there is a positive impact on job growth, community connectivity and economic productivity,” Kristy says.


“Our members are also vital contributors to the construction industry, which faces intractable productivity challenges unless we  address barriers to confidence, mobility, collaboration and learning.”


The opportunity for governments to deliver a broader legacy from their current investments is substantial, Kristy says. This starts by better utilising the thriving knowledge-led professional services sector which supports the broader construction and infrastructure supply chain. 

Consult Australia’s four recommendations are “smart policy reforms” that require government dedication, and align with the federal government’s priority for a stronger, more resilient economy: 

  1. Provide confidence for capacity:
    Pipeline uncertainty erodes industry confidence and discourages businesses from investing. An infrastructure pipeline coordinated and planned with long-term certainty will give businesses confidence to build capacity. Consult Australia supports approaches such as the Housing Support Program, that aim to better integrate new housing developments with critical infrastructure projects. 
  2. Realise occupational mobility:
    Automatic deemed registration under the Mutual Recognition Act 1992 (Cth) has not realised its purpose. A simple amendment to the definition of ‘home state’ would finally realise occupational mobility for highly skilled registered practitioners and better reflect modern work practices. More than $54 million could be saved on registered professional engineers alone.
  3. Strengthen national coordination:
    Fragmentation between jurisdictions has stifled productivity uplift. Supporting and strengthening the National Construction Strategy, the Construction Industry Culture Standard and Infrastructure Net Zero work are essential. These national strategies, with various jurisdictions working together towards common goals, show the integrated approach we need to uplift productivity.
  4. Enabling digital by default:
    Good digital practices are occurring around the country, but without integration or coordination. Consult Australia has five recommendations to enable digital by default, including creating a community of practice supported by governments, industry and academia to address the challenges of digital transformation.

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Reforms for growth