October 2025
Blueprint for change
Constructive momentum behind construction reform
The National Construction Industry Forum’s Blueprint for the Future, released in September, is a significant step toward long-overdue reform. What does it mean for Consult Australia members?
The National Construction Industry Forum (NCIF) – a tripartite body of government representatives, unions and employers – developed the Blueprint to tackle entrenched structural and cultural challenges in the industry.
For Consult Australia and its members, the Blueprint presents alignment and opportunity.
“This is a welcome step forward,” says Kristy Eulenstein, Head of Policy and Government Relations at Consult Australia. “Many of the priority actions echo our long-standing advocacy and we’re actively engaging to ensure the next phase reflects the full construction lifecycle, from early planning and design through to delivery.”
Priorities set in concrete
The Blueprint identifies a wide range of recommendations, with nine priority actions selected for immediate focus. These are to:
1. Enhance NCIF’s role to support ongoing implementation and review
2. Develop a Joint Construction Industry Charter to set clear shared goals for a safe, sustainable and productive industry
3. Identify best practice and provide advice on procurement frameworks and settings, aiming for a nationally consistent set of procurement principles
4. Develop advice on delivering safe, secure, well-paid jobs in the construction industry
5. Recommend strategies to improve entry pathways and remove structural barriers
6. Explore and address structural barriers to women’s participation
7. Recommend nationally consistent skills accreditation, licensing and regulation
8. Develop advice to protect security of payments for contractors down the supply chain
9. Create guidelines for appropriate risk management and risk allocation, including for head contractors.
“Some of these key priorities – procurement reform, fairer risk allocation, cultural change – are core to Consult Australia’s advocacy efforts,” Kristy adds. “We are pleased to see them reflected in the priorities.”
While Consult Australia was not formally represented in the first phase of the NCIF process, its influence remains strong. “Our ongoing engagement with ministers and departments, including with Infrastructure Minister Catherine King and senior officials in the Department of Infrastructure, has helped shape this agenda.”
What’s next?
Looking ahead, implementation will be the real test.
“The real opportunity lies in how the blueprint is implemented,” notes Kristine Banks, Consult Australia’s National Policy Manager. “The question is whether this becomes a top-down directive or a genuine ‘meeting of the minds’ across jurisdictions and industry.”
Consult Australia is advocating for the latter. With NCIF membership currently weighted toward builders, contractors and unions, there’s a clear opportunity to broaden the lens.
“Cultural reform, procurement settings and skills development don’t begin on site,” Kristine says. “They’re shaped in design meetings, feasibility studies and client briefs. Our members are essential to getting these reforms right from the start.”
Scaffolding a shared strategy
In parallel to the Blueprint, the Australian Government is progressing a National Construction Strategy. This broader initiative aims to align states, sectors, and the entire construction and infrastructure pipeline.
Consult Australia has already contributed to four discussion papers this year, spanning critical areas of procurement, workforce, data and innovation. (Read more in our back issue of Consulting Matters).
“The Blueprint is a solid start. But real reform depends on connecting strategies, plans and priorities,” say Kristine.
“Consult Australia will continue to work constructively with government and industry to ensure the next phase of reform is inclusive, constructive and focused on outcomes that matter to our members.”