Budget 2026–27: DIA Welcomes Proposed Productivity Reform Two Decades in the Making
When Treasurer Jim Chalmers hands down his fifth Budget tonight, designers will have a reason to take notice. According to the Australian Financial Review's 8 May preview, the centrepiece productivity package targets a $13 billion economic boost, with $10 billion a year in regulatory cost cuts for business—including a specific commitment to make Australian Standards free of charge.
DIA members have reported that small to medium practices with multi user licenses could save well in excess of $20,000+ in access fees under the change, with overall construction regulatory costs alone forecast to fall by $10.2 billion a year. The Productivity Commission first recommended free access to mandatory standards in 2006. Twenty years on, and let's hope there is good news tonight.
Two decades of DIA advocacy
DIA has been pressing for this reform as a member of the Australian Construction Industry Forum (ACIF), the peak body bringing together more than 25 construction industry stakeholders. ACIF's 2026–27 Pre-Budget Submission made the case plainly: building defects cost the Australian economy between $1.5 billion and $4 billion each year, and even modest compliance improvements could generate $75 million to $200 million in annual system savings. Individual practitioners currently pay between $2,000 and $10,000 to access the standards their professional practice legally requires.
DIA reinforced this position in its 11 March 2026 submission to the National Construction Code Modernisation Team. Interior designers — a Skill Level 1 profession of approximately 19,300 practitioners — navigate Australian Standards every working day, from AS 1428.1 (accessibility) to AS 4654 (waterproofing). The cost of access has long been a structural barrier for the small businesses and sole practitioners who make up the majority of our profession. Practitioners currently pay between $2,000 and $10,000 to access the standards their professional practice legally requires. All design disciplines across multiple sectors would benefit from having free of charge access to standards.
An Asia-Pacific outlier
A quick snapshot of our Asia-Pacific neighbours puts Australia's position in sharp relief. New Zealand, China, India, Japan and South Korea either provide free access to building standards, fund their standards bodies through government, or price standards at a fraction of Australia's cost. New Zealand's government-funded model recorded more than 60,000 downloads in its first month. The United Kingdom, Canada and Singapore also provide free public access to their regulatory standards.
Among Asia Pacific Space Designers Alliance (APSDA) member economies, Australia has stood alone as having arguably the most restrictive and expensive access model for construction standards—a position incompatible with a modern, productive economy.
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