The Australian Constructors Association (ACA) has served up a compelling case for reform, submitting a new proposal to the Federal Government’s Economic Reform Roundtable outlining opportunities to improve productivity in the construction industry—an area critical to the health of Australia’s economy yet lagging behind for decades.

While not on the official roundtable agenda, ACA CEO Jon Davies said the potential gains from construction reform are too substantial to ignore.

“If the opportunities we’ve outlined were dishes served in an episode of MasterChef, they would likely outscore anything else on offer in the government’s five-course productivity agenda and are part of an appetising $56Bn total annual opportunity if construction productivity could catch up with other industries.”

A key ingredient missing from the roundtable menu, according to ACA, is industrial relations reform.

“Industrial relations may not suit the palate of the roundtable hosts, but if we’re serious about improving productivity, it must be on the table,” Mr Davies said.

“We cannot continue a situation where many construction sites are only able to achieve three days productive work in any given week”. “This is not about doing more with less, it is about doing more with what we have. It is not about working longer hours; it’s about working more efficiently. It’s about chasing improved value for money, not the illusion of lowest cost.”

Using data commissioned from Oxford Economics and Arcadis, invited industry leaders will explore three detailed initiatives at ACA’s groundbreaking Foundations and Frontiers construction forum (FF25) in Brisbane on 6 August, that together could realise annual savings of over $15Bn.

“This year’s FF25 will put the spotlight on productivity,” said Mr Davies. “We have identified three opportunities worth $15Bn that are ripe for the picking if there is a collective will to do this, and we have assembled the people that can make this happen.”

The forum will also feature updates on the National Construction Strategy and the Construction Industry Blueprint – two critical reform agendas with the potential to reshape how Australia delivers infrastructure.

FF25 agenda