Housing bill proposes cash grants, tougher penalties for building violations
Summary
The government plans to amend the Building Act to provide cash grants, free materials and concessional loans for low-income families while tightening penalties for building-code violations. The bill also introduces mandatory safety assessments for older buildings and new requirements for disaster-affected and high-risk structures.
Key Points
- A bill to amend the Building Act 1998 has been registered in the House of Representatives to expand access to safe housing and strengthen building safety rules.
- Eligible low-income families could receive cash grants, free construction materials, concessional loans and technical assistance to build homes and livestock sheds.
- The bill proposes heavy fines for unauthorized construction and requires detailed safety assessments for older buildings, especially after disasters.
- Local, provincial and federal governments would have new responsibilities to support citizen housing, smart homes, and risk-aware construction planning.
