The Australian Institute of Architects’ 2023 budget wishlist

The Australian Institute of Architects has called on the federal government to prioritize funds for housing First Nations communities and improving buildings' energy efficiency in the 2023 budget, which will be delivered on 9 May.

The Institute made a pre-budget submission to Treasury that included a number of recommendations, including allocating $4 billion over four years to deliver 8,000 co-designed social housing dwellings for First Nations communities in an effort to address disadvantage.

Another key recommendation is to establish an Australian Net Zero Buildings Commission (ANZBC), at a cost of $75 million for the first three years, to conduct research into net-zero technologies and the performance of the Australian built environment under climate change conditions. In addition, the Institute suggested $500 million be used to fund research and start-ups focused on net-zero building materials. It also proposed a $150 million spend over three years to upgrade and retrofit existing public and community buildings to improve accessibility.

"These initiatives would support the well-being of First Nations communities, promote sustainable and accessible building practices for all Australians, and bring significant benefits to the Australian building industry," said national president Shannon Battisson.

The Institute also called on the government to allocate $16 million to establish an Australian Government Architects' Office and $2 million for a First Nations Architects' Office. To further support the architectural profession, the Institute proposed a two-year trial of wage subsidies for pre-registration graduate positions at a cost of $80 million.

"The Institute looks forward to the Australian Government's consideration of these recommendations in the upcoming budget," Battisson said.