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Visit to Parliament House

Representing the ACA through the Australian Construction Industry Forum (ACIF), Angelina Pillai, Kukame McPierzie and John Held met with Ministers and Shadow Ministers at Parliament House to advocate for the interests and concerns of architectural practice owners.

Visiting Parliament House last month with our Australian Construction Industry Forum colleagues was more than another advocacy meeting on the calendar. John Held, Kukame McPierzie and I went armed!

It genuinely affirmed the ACA’s role in advocating for architecture practices. We spoke directly with the following Ministers and Shadow Ministers:

  • The Hon Catherine King MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government;
  • The Hon Clare O’Neil MP, Minister for Housing, Homelessness and Cities;
  • The Hon Dr Anne Aly MP, Minister for Small Business, International Development and Multicultural Affairs;
  • The Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP, Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury;
  • Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development;
  • The Hon Alex Hawke MP, Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation;
  • Senator Matt O’Sullivan, Assistant Shadow Minister for Infrastructure; and
  • The Hon Ed Husic MP, Member for Chifley.

The energy in those conversations reminded me that the voice of consulting architects and businesses in general is urgently needed.

 

What we brought to the table

Our conversations centred on what matters most to businesses.

  • The need for free or affordable access to Australian Standards, so that compliance isn’t hidden behind a paywall and disproportionately punishing small practices who are already struggling with operating costs.
  • A fair and realistic understanding of productivity in professional services, so we can actually identify what productivity means, set tangible metrics and then meaningfully measure its performance. As the saying goes, “If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it!”.
  • Support for graduate training and registration, because architecture is not served by fee-free TAFE or apprenticeship models; the profession needs targeted support for businesses, so practices don’t carry the full burden for developing the next generation of architects.
  • Better procurement and proportionate risk, so that responsibility and liability align sensibly with expertise and scope.
  • Genuine recognition and support for small and regional firms who carry the same obligations with far fewer resources.
  • And the critical link between culture, wellbeing and better outcomes, reminding government that workforce sustainability and a stronger industry is centred on wellbeing, equity, inclusion and professional respect – across gender, graduates, migrants, regional practitioners and all who sustain this industry.

Why this matters

Many of you tell me the same thing: “architecture is a profession with enormous public value, but businesses are under pressure and clients don’t understand our value”. The ACA is committed to taking these issues to Canberra – not as complaints, but as constructive pathways for change.

What next?

We will now follow up individually with each Minister and advisor we met, reinforcing our positions and ensuring these issues don’t fade into parliamentary ether. They heard us – and we will ensure the conversation continues.