Overview

• A Treasury cabinet briefing, obtained by the ABC, proposed pausing changes to the National Construction Code, deploying AI to fast-track environmental approvals, and clearing a backlog of about 30,000 EPBC Act housing assessments ahead of next week’s summit.
• Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese insisted the document was routine departmental advice and not indicative of pre-determined government policy.
• Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and other Coalition figures accused the government of choreographing the roundtable after the briefing’s contents became public.
• The Australian Securities and Investments Commission announced it will review disclosure rules to unlock more superannuation investment in residential construction, responding to Treasury’s recommendation.
• Master Builders and other industry groups are lobbying for a multi-year pause on construction code changes to provide regulatory certainty as stakeholders prepare for the talks.