The Australian Constructors Association (ACA) has today launched its vision for the future of the construction industry, releasing its 2023-30 Strategic Plan.

ACA president Annabel Crookes says the ACA’s strategic priorities focus on improving industry productivity and are grounded in a commitment to improving environmental sustainability.

“The three crucial elements necessary for an enduring and sustainable construction industry are a good culture, equitable commercial frameworks and sufficient capability and capacity. Consider them as the three legs of a stool, if one of these legs is missing, the entire structure becomes unstable,” Annabel says.

“To increase productivity and better manage environmental impacts, we need to work on improving all three of these areas.”

ACA chief executive officer Jon Davies says the association will continue to drive clarity and focus on what is needed to progress in these areas.

“It is clear that to achieve the improvements that are so desperately needed, the industry must first become more financially sustainable, with businesses able to make a fair return for delivering high-quality performance,” Jon says.

“How can industry invest in research and development when it is not making a reliable and reasonable return on the capital it invests in projects?

“If we get this right, we will close the productivity gap between construction and other major industries. Construction insolvency rates will finally reflect business participation rates and we can address the challenges currently faced by ongoing skills shortages. We can also ensure the industry’s contribution to the national net zero ambition will be fulfilled.”

In revising the strategic plan, the ACA consulted with government and other key industry stakeholders and would like to thank them all for their contributions.

The ACA is committed to being a trusted partner, bringing stakeholders together to create an enduring, sustainable and progressive industry.