The Housing Industry Association is using Australian Made Week to push for greater government support for local manufacturers, arguing they’re essential to solving the housing supply crisis.
HIA Executive Director for Tasmania Benjamin Price made the call during a visit to Austral Bricks’ Longford factory in northern Tasmania, which produces millions of bricks each year.
“Homes don’t start on site, they start in factories like this,” Price said.
“If we want to build more homes in this state, we need to back the Tasmanian manufacturers who make it possible.”
Price said every home built in Tasmania relies on Australian-made materials, many of them produced in Tasmania.
Price said the Longford operation is a clear example of how local manufacturing supports regional jobs, skills development and a reliable supply of building materials.
But he warned manufacturers are under growing pressure from energy costs, red tape and workforce challenges.
“Australian Made Week is a reminder that strong local manufacturing underpins housing delivery,” he said.
“Getting policy settings right will help manufacturers keep investing, innovating and supplying the homes Tasmania needs.”
The HIA is calling on governments to treat domestic manufacturing as a critical part of the housing solution and to back the sector’s long-term ability to compete.
Australian Made Week runs from May 18 to 24.
