Today marked our first visit to Parliament House since the election. Our purpose was clear and vital: to advocate for the positive role architects can play in addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing our communities:
- housing affordability and quality
- sustainability and climate resilience
- the delivery of a more equitable built environment through design
Representing the RAIA, PIA and AILA, we met with several elected representatives to begin re-establishing the Parliamentary Friends of Australian Urban Design鈥攁 cross-party group dedicated to helping parliamentarians engage with the essential role of good urban design in building a fairer, more sustainable Australia.
We were encouraged by our discussions with Lisa Chesters (Labor, Bendigo), David Pocock (Independent, ACT), and Elizabeth Watson-Brown (Greens, Ryan)鈥攁ll of whom committed to supporting the initiative. The next step is securing 20 parliamentary聽members to formalise the group. You can help by contacting your local federal MP and encouraging them to sign on. Coordination is being led by Elizabeth Watson-Brown鈥檚 office.
Alongside this, we advanced our proposal for the establishment of a Federal Government Architect鈥攁 role that would embed design leadership in national conversations about population growth, settlement patterns, infrastructure spending, and housing delivery. Too often design is dismissed as a 鈥渘ice to have.鈥� As we reminded MPs, there is no such thing as 鈥渘o design鈥濃�攐nly good or bad design. Australians deserve the former, with design integrated from the outset to reduce costs, improve productivity, and deliver better long-term outcomes. We cannot expect different housing results if we continue to imagine and deliver housing in the same way.
Our meetings built on earlier discussions with the office of Hon. Clare O鈥橬eil, Minister for Housing and Cities, where we strongly opposed the government鈥檚 proposal to suspend updates to the National Construction Code (NCC). We welcome the government鈥檚 decision to reject the pause, instead extending the update cycle from three to four years. However, we remain firm in our view: regular, expert-led updates are essential to avoid a patchwork of state-based solutions and to maintain consistent, modern, and effective national standards.
We support the government鈥檚 ambition to simplify the NCC and urge them to begin this modernisation immediately. A structured timetable is needed, with key issues addressed annually and targeted, measurable outcomes delivered along the way. This will ensure that, in four years鈥� time, we have a leaner, clearer, and more effective NCC鈥攐ne that strengthens protections, embeds achievable sustainability targets, and delivers cost savings for communities. What we cannot afford is leaving reform until the last minute.
Later in the day, we participated in a National Alliance for Regionalisation roundtable organised by the Regional Australia Institute, alongside representatives from Engineers Australia, Master Builders Australia, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the Local Government Association, and others. Here, we advocated strongly for the importance of early design thinking in regional Australia, where the economic and legislative burden of delivering quality housing and infrastructure is often most acute. Regions are ready to shoulder more responsibility for housing, productivity, and employment鈥攂ut they need support. Architects are well placed to provide that support through early strategic design leadership.
The roundtable was addressed by Minister Clare O鈥橬eil (Housing, Homelessness, and Cities) and Assistant Minister Matt Thistlethwaite (Immigration, Foreign Affairs and Trade), who outlined the government鈥檚 regional focus. While we welcome this, we emphasised the need for a sharper program of work to drive cultural change towards more diverse and denser housing, limits on urban sprawl, and more climate-resilient, fit-for-purpose homes. A Federal Government Architect could play a pivotal role in this鈥攚orking with State Government Architects, sharing insights, and potentially supporting time-limited regional architect roles to help communities tackle their most pressing design challenges.
It was a productive day, and I want to acknowledge the tireless efforts of Eva Scheerlinck (Head of National Council Policy and Advocacy, RAIA) and Jane Cassidy (Immediate Past President, RAIA), who ensured our advocacy was sharp, strategic, and heard.
As always, if you have any questions or thoughts, please don鈥檛 hesitate to reach out.
Best regards,
Adam Haddow
National President
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