Cutting excessive administrative requirements in Victoria’s building regulation system could deliver safer homes, speed up project approvals, and lower costs for homebuyers, according to the Australian Institute of Building Surveyors (AIBS).
The peak industry body is calling for urgent regulatory reform, warning that duplicated paperwork is pulling building surveyors away from critical inspections at a time when defect rectifications cost more than AU$2.5 billion nationwide each year.
In Victoria, administrative tasks currently account for roughly one-third of the time spent processing a building permit application. Surveyors are currently forced to submit identical documentation to both local councils and the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC).
AIBS President Wayne Liddy noted that these delays generate higher landholding costs, extended temporary accommodation expenses, and increased project financing fees that are ultimately passed on to consumers.
“We have highly qualified professionals spending their days navigating duplicate records when their expertise is desperately needed assessing buildings and conducting inspections,” Liddy said.
“Every unnecessary delay adds pressure to an industry already struggling to deliver affordable housing.”
To resolve the bottleneck, AIBS recommends launching a single digital submission platform for all relevant regulatory authorities to eliminate double reporting.
The institute is also urging closer coordination between local councils and the BPC to reallocate resources toward compliance audits, noting that only 42 per cent of Victorian councils currently employ a full-time municipal building surveyor.
Additionally, AIBS advocates for stronger cooperation between government regulators and professional bodies under its Professional Standards Scheme to address ongoing regulatory workforce shortages.
Streamlining approvals and reducing defects would protect consumer confidence and secure project pipelines across the residential construction sector.
“Strengthening oversight isn’t about adding more administrative burden. It’s about ensuring the right people have the resources and authority to identify problems before they become costly defects,” Liddy said.
“The test of any reform must be whether it makes buildings safer, approvals faster and housing more affordable.”
