Treasurers’ commitment to a new National Competition Policy Framework a welcome reboot to reform

Master Builders Australia strongly backs the focus by the Federal and State/Territory Treasurers on national competition policy at the Council on Federal Financial Relations today.

“Master Builders has long called for the Federal Government to adopt national competition policy reforms to drive economic growth and tackle housing affordability in particular,” Wilhelm Harnisch, CEO of Master Builders Australia said.

“The commitment by state and territory Governments to work with the Federal Government to reestablish a national competition policy framework through which governments can work together to advance reform is particularly welcome and urgent,” he said.

“The Treasurers’ recognition of competition policy as a key driver of productivity gains is also important in tackling housing affordability,” Wilhelm Harnisch said.

“Structural reforms to boost the housing supply have to be at the core of improving affordability and areas under state and local government jurisdiction such as planning, development and approval processes and the cutting of excess infrastructure changes are crying out for reforms that will have long lasting benefits for first home buyers,” Wilhelm Harnisch said.

“State and territory governments must heed the call by the Harper Review to act decisively to abolish unnecessary regulation and to remove structural impediments to affordable housing. Master Builders has consistently called for competition payments to achieve structural reform,” he said.

“Master Builders also welcomes leadership by Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas in chairing the Council’s housing affordability working party and looks forward to working with Federal and State/Territory Governments to look at other complementary areas of supply reform to improve access to affordable housing,” Wilhelm Harnisch said.