The upcoming Australian Government's Economic Reform Roundtable is a significant opportunity to address the barriers holding back the building and construction industry, and with it, Australia’s housing supply. The industry is constrained by outdated systems, inconsistent regulation and severe skill shortages. This paper outlines the reforms the industry believes are essential.

This report forecasts the building and construction industry needs 130,000 additional workers this year to overcome workforce shortages. It takes a closer look at the current state of the building and construction industry, the impact of chronic workforce shortages, and recommends policy measures to relieve the pressure.

This report argues that regulatory barriers to building more new homes that exist at the state and local government levels must be pared back, helping to contribute to the wealth of lower and middle income households in Australia.