The Housing Industry Association (HIA) and construction leaders have met with Standards Australia at Parliament House, demanding easier access to Australian Standards to help small businesses alleviate costs.

HIA managing director Jocelyn Martin says that small businesses are continuing to struggle with high operational and living costs, as well as the increasing red, white and green tape. Both the HIA and industry partners are calling for free access to Australian Standards to ease the regulatory burden for builders and tradies.

“This increasing level and complexity of regulation all adds to the regulatory burdens being placed on small businesses. By removing the paywall to access the Standards, it would be an important step to reduce red tape and improve housing affordability,” she says.

“This change would additionally play an important role in progressing the Government’s deregulation and industry productivity boosting agenda.”

The Building Ministers’ Forum agreed to a similar initiative in 2015, which saw success and a greater usage and understanding of the National Construction Code (NCC), particularly in small businesses.

“A similar commitment by the Federal, State and Territory governments to fund access to the key Australian Standards for building, plumbing and electrical practitioners would play a significant support role for the industry,” Jocelyn says.

“By reducing the upfront cost, it would provide a substantial red tape reduction boost. In turn, it will improve the usability and penetration of the NCC and boost associated Australian Standards.”

Jocelyn concludes by saying that the more innovation and AI tools coming online, the move to free online Standards would act as another key step towards smarter integrated standards.