Australian Standards – ACA member update
ACA CEO Angelina Pillai facilitated a late October meeting with Standards Australia CEO Rod Balding, Head of Commercial Peter Croft and the ACA Advocacy Working Group to discuss progress on the Australian Government’s commitment to free access to standards referenced in legislation and regulation. Angelina provides an update for members.
The meeting provided an opportunity to address members’ concerns about the scope of the program, particularly whether it would extend beyond standards directly mandated by the NCC, and to ensure the practical needs of architectural practices are considered as the program moves towards implementation.
The good news is that significant progress has been made.
The legislative instrument has been tabled in Parliament, and discussions with Treasury are progressing. While a launch date has yet to be confirmed, Standards Australia is hopeful the program will be operational within the next six months.
Importantly, the program will extend beyond standards directly mandated by the NCC. One of the key concerns raised by ACA members has been the need for broader access, recognising that architectural practices rely on many standards beyond those explicitly mandated by the NCC. These include standards referenced through other legislation, regulations and planning instruments, as well as standards that may be indirectly referenced.
Standards Australia confirmed that the program is not limited to the NCC or to standards that are directly mandated. Approximately 1,500 standards referenced in Commonwealth, state and territory legislation and regulation are expected to be available free of charge.
This is an important distinction and a welcome development for ACA members. While not every standard used in architectural practice will necessarily be covered, the broader scope recognises the range of regulatory obligations practitioners must navigate.
Members can also expect:
- Free, read-only online access to eligible standards, with the ability to view multiple standards simultaneously.
- Improved search and filtering functions to make relevant standards easier to find.
- A mechanism to identify missing standards, allowing practitioners to flag standards that should be considered for inclusion.
- Prorated refunds for direct Standards Australia subscriptions where the subscription is no longer required following the launch.
Our discussions also explored Standards Australia’s longer-term plans to make standards easier to understand and use, including visual guidance, digital tools and the responsible use of AI.
Standards Australia welcomed the ACA’s ongoing involvement in shaping these developments, including opportunities for practitioners to participate in industry advisory panels. We are particularly pleased that the program’s scope extends beyond the NCC, reflecting concerns raised by our members about the broader regulatory framework within which architectural practices operate.
Rod Balding made an important point about social justice, which really gets to the heart of this issue. The ACA has advocated for fairer and equitable access to Australian Standards for many years, so it’s encouraging to see such meaningful progress, particularly in recognising the broader needs of architectural practices.
We will continue working with Standards Australia to identify potential gaps, advocate for broader access and ensure the needs of architectural practices are represented. We will keep members informed as further details and launch arrangements are confirmed.