Master Builders Australia and the Insurance Council of Australia brought together a number of peak construction industry bodies, insurance professionals, financial, scientific and economic experts for today’s Building Stronger Homes Roundtable.
According to the Australian Institute of Architects, this was “an important initial conversation among industry leaders following the release of the Bushfire Royal Commission report”.
Institute CEO Julia Cambage said there was “a strong desire among attendees to work collaboratively to agree a path to a better future for Australian homes and buildings”.
“After one of the worst natural disasters ever witnessed in our nation, this collegiate, proactive approach by industry will benefit the community and support Australia to build back better and more resilient,” Ms Cambage said.
In March, the Council of Australian Governments called upon the Building Ministers Forum to consider ‘how to adapt the built environment to future climate and hazard conditions’.
Tomorrow, Australia’s building ministers will present their proposals.
“This work forms a key part of the Commonwealth Government’s response to the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements,” Ms Cambage continued.
“Great design is a critical first step that must then be paired with high-quality construction informed by evidence-based data.
“We need to holistically re-examine where and how we build, and how our regulatory environment operates in the context of a rapidly changing climate.
“The current regulatory system lacks a strong base of relevant data, a capacity to be agile and follows an outdated approach of implementing extremely slow moving reforms only after a disaster has taken place.
“We can and must do better, Australian communities depend on it. Science has shown us what to expect from a changing climate. We must act urgently to mitigate the impacts.
“Australia’s built environment accounts for a quarter of our carbon emissions so there is huge capacity among those in the room today to affect meaningful and lasting change.”
