Mandatory rating requirements will no longer be imposed on shopping and retail centres, following the Federal Government’s decision not to expand the National Australian Built Environment Rating System (Nabers) to the sector.
The move was welcomed by the Shopping Centre Council of Australia (SCCA) as a win against unnecessary red tape.
The decision, outlined in the Federal Government’s recently released Commercial Building Disclosure (CBD) Roadmap, follows the third review in a decade into expanding the CBD Program, which has mandated Nabers ratings for large office buildings since 2010.
SCCA CEO Angus Nardi said the government’s position was “a win for common sense” and reflected an evidence-based approach to regulation.
“Attempts to impose regulation on our sector are simply a red tape solution in search of a problem,” he explains.
Nardi said the decision also recognised the key differences between shopping centres and office buildings in terms of market dynamics, tenancy structures, and legislative frameworks.
“This is a positive outcome for our industry and reflects the strong engagement by the SCCA and its members throughout the consultation process,” he remarked.
The SCCA said it would continue to monitor the issue and work constructively with government and industry stakeholders to advance sustainability initiatives across the sector.
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