The Institute supports the national commitment to high‑quality, safe, sustainable and future‑ready buildings, and we urge governments to commit to full, timely, and consistent national adoption of NCC 2025.
Through sustained engagement in technical working groups, Standards reference panels and formal submissions to the Australian Building Codes Board, the Institute has provided specialist architectural, building science and practice-based expertise that directly informed key refinements in NCC 2025. This work occurred through established governance processes of the Building Codes Committee, ensuring advice was evidence-based, nationally coordinated and implementation-ready.
The NCC 2025 updates, including strengthened provisions for waterproofing, condensation management, thermal performance and performance pathways, reflect contemporary practice, improved building performance expectations, and evolving community needs.
The NCC remains a critical national framework supporting emissions reduction, construction productivity, safety and long-term climate resilience. Regular, evidence-based updates are necessary to ensure buildings continue to meet community expectations while maintaining affordability, industry certainty and regulatory clarity.
To realise these outcomes, the Institute recommends that states and territories commit to cohesive national implementation guided by the following principles:
| PRINCIPLE | STRATEGIC FOCUS |
| National Consistency | Eliminating state-based variations to reduce project delays and compliance costs. |
| Independent Governance | Ensuring provisions are informed by expert technical advice with transparent public rationales. |
| Usability | Structuring the Code to support efficient interpretation by practitioners through digital and AI tools. |
| Innovation | Facilitating Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and low-carbon technologies. |
| Adapt First | Creating practical pathways for the retrofit and adaptation of our existing building stock. |
| Accessibility | Ensuring all referenced Standards are readily and freely accessible to practitioners. |
| Predictability | Maintaining stable update cycles and transparent change processes to support industry investment. |
The Path Forward
The Institute will continue to advocate against any “pauses” to the NCC cycle. Regular, evidence-based updates are the only way to ensure Australian buildings meet community expectations while maintaining affordability and regulatory clarity.
Architects are at the forefront of this transition. By integrating design expertise into the heart of the NCC development process, we can deliver safer, more productive, and more resilient communities.