A report commissioned by the Housing Industry Association (HIA) into the effects of the national workplace safety laws on the South Australian housing industry has found that the laws could drive up costs of a new home by tens of thousands of dolars.

 

The report, released by consultancy group Hudson Howells, found that compliance costs with the new OHS harmonisation laws could drive the final cost of a new home up by as much as $29,335.

 

Detailing the effects of the laws, the report claims that up to $16 billion could be wiped off due to losses in productivity associated with bureaucratic red tape.

 

The report comes after concerns were raised over the effects of the laws on volunteer groups, who will be faced with obligations to ensure workplace safety laws are applied to both paid and unpaid workers. 

 

The report is not publicly available.