De Brenni delays major home energy changes amid backlash

The Palaszczuk government has been slammed for backflipping on a controversial housing code change, a move that provides a$20,000 reprieve to new homebuyers … but there’s a catch.

Controversial regulations requiring new homes to be built to a 7-star energy rating will be delayed by the Palaszczuk government until May following widespread criticism.

The Courier-Mail can reveal Energy and Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni will undertake a “phased approach” to changes to the National Construction Code, with implementation from October to May, 2025.

Mr de Brenni will today reveal new energy-efficiency requirements will be pushed back from October until May 1, 2024.

Industry insiders had claimed the code changes could add $20,000 to the price of building an average Queensland home, while some had estimated the actual increases to be as high as $70,000.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said the latest in a series of backflips had “done nothing but undermine confidence” in people looking to invest, live and work in Queensland.

“The bottom line is, positions the government has defended for months have crumbled at the eleventh hour,” he said.

“And with it, confidence in governing in Queensland is crumbling as well.

“Things must change, and the constant changing of positions, the constant undermining of confidence must end.

“This knee jerk reaction is no way to run your life – it’s certainly no way to run a government.”

Energy and Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni. Picture: Liam Kidston

Listing the government’s backflips on the clearing house, construction code and patient tax, Mr Crisafulli said he wanted to “offer Queenslanders an end to this chaotic behaviour”.

“I want Queenslanders to see what calm and stable leadership looks like, and an end to this constant knee jerk reaction that we’re seeing from the state government,” he said.

From May 1 new houses and units must have a 7-star rating for the building shell, which could include orientation, better insulation and window design and a lighter-coloured roof.

Mr de Brenni said the energy-efficiency standards would reduce power bills by about $185 per year and noted the Australian Building Codes Board expects the changes would collectively add “just 1-2 per cent to the cost of building new homes”.

“These Modern Homes standards mean positive outcomes for Queenslanders, and will make their homes more comfortable and cheaper to run for years to come,” Mr de Brenni said.

“We have listened to advocates, industry and the community and our phased implementation plan balances the needs of industry to transition, alongside the community’s expectations that we adopt these improved standards.”

Mr de Brenni’s move to delay the energy efficiency changes comes following widespread criticism from the construction industry and problems with federal software used to measure energy ratings.

Master Builders Queensland launched an advertising campaign criticising the government for pushing ahead with the energy efficiency changes “as Queenslanders stare down the barrel of a worsening housing crisis”.

Disability accessibility standards requiring new homes to have step-free access, wider hallways and doors will still be introduced from October 1, with transition time frames for some builds, including those on smaller lots.

Mr de Brenni said the “iconic Queenslander” would also be exempt from a step-free entry.

He said the average home already reached a 6.5-star energy efficiency rating, meaning most builders “won’t have any problems meeting the new requirements”.

Master Builders CEO Paul Bidwell had criticised the implementation period for the proposed changes. Picture: Tertius Pickard

“We expect even more savings for Queensland households, with an estimated $185 off electricity bills each year, thanks to energy efficient measures put in place as part of the National Construction Code,” he said.

Mr Bidwell said changes announced today made “good sense” with the energy tool still unavailable.

“It’s a reasonable expectation, but I’m pleased he (de Brenni) has done it,” he said.

But he said some builders still had “no idea” about the accessibility changes coming into effect from October 1, and only the minority of larger businesses were properly prepared.

“There would be people out there that have no idea that this is coming in 10 days,” he said.

“The other point is we’re still in the middle of this crisis, the change will increase the cost.

“By and large people aren’t really ready for it so while a delay is going to help, it confirms the point that they should have done it for liveable housing.”

Housing Industry Association (HIA) Queensland chief executive Michael Robert questioned the timing of the announcement and said the changes put the industry in a precarious position after builders invested significant time and money to meet the fast October 1 deadline.

“The timing of the announcement is quite curious,” he said.

“This decision could have been made several months ago and the industry would have been better for it.

“It’s put us in a precarious position now as the bigger building companies have invested the money because they had to.

“They’ve upgraded their documentation, got their marketing material ready to go … land sales have been rushed with people wanting to sign contracts before October 1.