Kyrillos Ghaly

  The Australian construction industry is currently at a critical juncture, grappling with the ambitious goal set by the government to erect 1.2 million new homes over the next five years. This target is not just a number — it’s a beacon of hope for many Australians yearning for affordable housing. Yet, the stark reality, underscored by recent statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), paints a challenging picture: a significant 22% drop in new home starts during the September quarter compared to the previous year. This downturn is further exacerbated by the distressing figure of nearly 1,400 construction companies declaring insolvency between July and December. This situation has prompted Master Builders Australia (MBA) to make an urgent plea to the government, requesting a reduction in the regulatory burdens that currently weigh heavily on construction firms. These companies are already navigating a labyrinth of challenges, including stringent regulations around s...

The last decade has seen an unprecedented boom in high-rise apartment construction. Yet, this growth has been shadowed by an increasing number of construction defects and quality issues, casting a long shadow over the industry’s standards.   Recent findings from the Office of the Building Commissioner and Strata Community Association (SCA) NSW bring to light a worrying trend: over half of the newly registered strata buildings since 2016 are marred with serious defects, costing an average of $331,829 per building. Despite these alarming statistics, the Albanese government has ambitious plans to construct 1.2 million dwellings over the next five years to accommodate population growth, with a focus on high-density apartments. However, with buyer confidence at an all-time low due to these quality issues, it's crucial that we don't repeat the mistakes of the past decade. In a positive turn, Building Commissioner David Chandler has significantly expanded his building defects inspec...