The property and construction sector is playing a key role in the post-pandemic recovery of our economy and communities. Being one of the largest employers in Australia and a key contributor to our national GDP, the sector is well positioned to achieve immediate impacts in terms of jobs creation and industry support, while addressing our most pressing construction related needs.

At the same time, buildings present a significant – and largely untapped – opportunity for an energy efficiency driven rebound. As governments move to mobilise the sector, support for energy efficient buildings can provide an effective boost of economic activity and increased labour demand, while delivering on a number of policy objectives. Benefits range from labour intensive projects that are rooted in local supply chains to improved energy affordability for consumers, reduced stress on the electricity network and a least cost pathway to decarbonisation.

We urge Australian governments to fund a major overhaul of the building sector to reignite the economy:

1. Improve the comfort and performance of residential homes through targeted equipment upgrades and incentives for deeper retrofits, with a priority for social housing and low income and vulnerable households
2. Drive commercial building upgrades through tax incentives and establish a ‘Smart Building Fund’ to support mid-tier building owners to rate and guide the upgrade of their buildings
3. Embark on an ambitious program to upgrade schools and hospitals and other government owned and occupied buildings with the Commonwealth committing to match funding from state and territory governments up to $150m in each jurisdiction
4. Empower building owners, buyers and renters with a single national rating scheme for home energy performance and prioritise its development in line with the recent recommendations from the King Review
5. Undertake a rapid review of skills needs around energy efficiency, and roll out priority measures to support workers transitioning from other sectors

Download the report here

Download the media release here