Australia’s peak body for sustainable buildings has welcomed key measures in the 2026–27 Federal Budget, saying the spending signals a meaningful shift toward homes and buildings that are not only affordable to buy, but cheaper and cleaner to live in.
The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) says the Budget reflects growing recognition that housing affordability extends beyond the purchase price of a home to encompass the long-term cost of running it, including energy and water bills that have placed increasing pressure on Australian households.
GBCA Chief Executive Officer Davina Rooney said the opportunity before Australia was to ensure that, as new housing supply is accelerated, those homes are built to be efficient, climate resilient and ready for a net zero future.
She noted that foundations had already been laid through last year’s Built Environment Sector Plan, backed by an $85 million package supporting sustainability benchmarking programs including NABERS, NatHERS and Commercial Building Disclosure.
The challenge now, she said, is scaling delivery.
Among the standout green measures is a $97.2 million commitment over five years to implement the National Consumer Energy Resources Roadmap.
The funding will establish a National Technical Regulator to help households harness solar, batteries and electric vehicles as active participants in the energy grid.
The GBCA views this as a significant step toward smarter, more flexible homes that can strengthen the resilience and efficiency of the broader energy system while reducing household energy costs.
A further $4.5 million over four years has been allocated to improve the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards scheme, a measure the GBCA says acknowledges that truly efficient homes must address both energy and water consumption.
With climate change placing growing pressure on water resources, improving household water efficiency is seen as an important lever for long-term cost reduction and environmental resilience.
The Budget also commits an additional $2 billion in enabling infrastructure to support new housing developments.
The GBCA has emphasised that sustainable housing cannot exist in isolation.
Communities must be underpinned by infrastructure that supports long-term liveability and resilience as climate pressures intensify.
On the regulatory front, $42.7 million over four years will fund free public access to Standards Australia standards referenced in legislation.
By lowering the barrier to technical information that underpins the National Construction Code, the measure is expected to support faster and more consistent delivery across the building and construction sector, a practical productivity reform with direct green building implications.
The Budget extends funding for Australia’s circular economy agenda, with an additional $17 million in 2026–27 to continue policy, program and legislative reforms aimed at reducing waste and improving material efficiency across the built environment.
Separately, $36.9 million over two years will support the establishment of the National Environmental Protection Agency, including the administration of the Nature Repair Market to drive investment in environmental restoration.
The GBCA has nonetheless called for continued ambition, noting that investment in resilient building standards and future-ready homes will remain critical as climate risks grow.
The Council has signalled its intention to work constructively with the federal government to ensure affordability, resilience and emissions reduction are delivered together across Australia’s built environment.
