
More than any other industry building and construction is crucial to South Australia’s economic recovery from COVID-19.
That’s a message Master Builders has been conveying to the South Australian and Federal governments on a daily basis since COVID-19 first began having an impact on the industry.
- The creation of over 6,750 jobs right across the South Australian labour market
- A lift to South Australia’s economy valued at $1.75 billion
- An expansion in construction activity worth $1.03 billion
- An additional 724 new homes being built across the state
- Vital support for 107 construction businesses in South Australia – most of which are small in size

Scenarios modelled
The five policy scenarios modelled for residential and commercial building include:Residential Building
Scenario A: Provision of an immediate time-limited cash grant of $40,000 for the construction of a new residential home, subject to meeting particular socio-economic thresholds and on a Federal-State dollar for dollar basis.
Scenario B: Resilience Renovations Programme funding to eligible homeowners to improve the resilience of their homes to natural disasters or to make homes more accessible. Modelling will be undertaken on the basis of stimulus equalling 10% ($4b) of the value of home renovation activity to fund the program, with funding matched by Federal and State governments on a dollar for dollar basis.
Commercial/Civil Construction
Scenario C: Provision of funding for cladding rectification for audited buildings requiring rectification in affected states/territories and for asbestos removal for projects on the National Asbestos Exposure Register. Specifically, this calls for application of the South Australian model across the country for cladding rectification, fully funded by government and not requiring an increase in building permit levies to partially fund the cost of the program.
Scenario D: A 10 per cent reduction in developer and infrastructure related charges across states/territories for commercial projects.
Scenario E: Increasing institutional spending by 5% for health, higher and vocational education, defence and indigenous infrastructure.
Master Builders SA is doing everything we can to ensure you have future work opportunities and South Australia has a building and construction led economic recovery. I’m hopeful that some significant government announcements are not far away.
For more information, or if you would like to discuss, please contact Will Frogley, Director of Policy and Communications, on 8211 7466 or wfrogley@mbasa.com.au
Regards,
IAN MARKOS
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
MASTER BUILDERS SA