The Housing Industry Association (HIA) is calling for a national energy security and supply plan to support Australia’s building product manufacturers, recognising their vital role in the economy and in supplying materials for housing.

The HIA has shared the concerns of several Australian manufacturers regarding the escalated cost of energy and the impact it’s having on Australia’s manufacturing base.

The residential building industry relies on local manufacturers to supply materials like steel, bricks, cement, timber and glass. Rising energy costs affect the entire housing supply chain, from manufacturers and builders to homebuyers.

A submission from the HIA to the Federal Treasury’s Economic Reform Roundtable called for action to ensure affordability, reliability and energy security while reducing the growing burden on the local industry.

“We need a fuel-source neutral approach that supports all forms of energy supply, while maintaining a stable and affordable supply. Without this, Australia risks losing its manufacturing capability at a time when sovereign supply chains have never been more important,” HIA chief executive – industry and policy Simon Croft says.

“That a strong domestic manufacturing base is critical not only to Australia’s economic resilience but also to the delivery of the government’s housing targets. If we are serious about meeting the 1.2 million new homes target, we must ensure that the key materials needed to build those homes can be made here in Australia competitively, sustainably and reliably.”

The HIA has called for the Building Product Sector Transition Strategy to support manufacturers through the energy transition.