Written 28 October 2026. Builders and developers keep asking the same question: which states are actually backing modern methods of construction, and what does it mean for a job they might price next year? This roundup sets out what each government has announced, with the source named, and what a builder should do with it.
New South Wales: a new law and a factory tender
The Building (Approvals and Practitioners) Act 2026 passed Parliament on 4 August 2026 and received assent on 14 August 2026, MBA NSW reported. It brings the manufacture, supply, transport and installation of prefabricated buildings into the approvals system. Most of it starts on dates set by proclamation, and until then the Design & Building Practitioners Act still applies. Our page on the NSW prefab law has the detail.
The NSW Government’s From factory to front door plan runs a two-stage tender for MMC factory operators. Expressions of interest closed on 3 August 2026, with a request for proposals from September to November 2026, according to the Cushman and Wakefield information memorandum for the NSW Government. The Government has also set aside $1.6m for an MMC regulatory framework and national certification.
Western Australia: money for local manufacturers
The WA Government announced a $49m Housing Innovation Fund for 15 local housing manufacturers on 24 May 2026, and $48m to support two local factories. For WA builders, this means more local supply competing for the same work, and a government keen to see factory-built homes delivered.
Queensland: a government factory
Build Australia reported that QBuild’s regional factory has built 30 homes since 2024 and is lifting output from 1 July 2026. The Queensland Budget, reported by The Adviser, commits $5.73bn over 4 years to social housing but names no modular programme. Builders should expect QBuild to take some of the work itself.
Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia
Build Australia reported more than 350 modular social homes planned in Victoria by mid-2028 across Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Ararat and Gippsland. In Tasmania, the Premier said ModHomes has delivered more than 280 homes with 271 more in the pipeline, and a Modular Housing Finance Guarantee is planned for the fourth quarter of 2026, limited to accredited Tasmanian builders. In South Australia, Renewal SA’s Regional Key Worker Housing Scheme includes a 6-home modular pilot.
ACT, NT and the national scheme
Region Canberra reported $364m for 450 public homes in the ACT Budget. In the NT, a $4bn federal and NT agreement funds 2,700 remote homes over 10 years. Nationally, the NCCB is targeting a voluntary certification scheme for MMC manufacturers for about mid-2028.
Why this matters for builders
The pattern is clear across the states. Governments want more homes and are testing factory methods to get them. The builder still holds the head contract, the site and the approvals. A module supplier who can document its work cleanly makes that builder’s bid stronger.
What EcoPrestige supplies, and what does not fit
EcoPrestige supplies engineered structural steel volumetric modules, built and inspected in the factory, to builders and developers. We are not a builder. Repeat plans on accessible sites suit modules best. Tall towers, tight inner-city sites without crane room and highly custom one-off buildings often do not, and we will say so. See our page for builders.
Approval paths differ by state
Each state names its own signatories. In NSW, WA, SA, the ACT and the NT, EcoPrestige coordinates the module design with your consultants; permit drawings are issued by the registered or licensed practitioner the state requires. In Queensland, permit drawings are issued under a QBCC licensed building designer, and in Tasmania by a licensed Tasmanian building designer. Confirm with your building surveyor or certifier.
The programme and what to send us
In every state the method is the same: the factory builds while the site is prepared, so time on site is shorter. To start, send:
- 1. The state, the town and the program you are targeting
- 2. The building use and number of dwellings or rooms
- 3. Any tender documents or agency briefs
- 4. Your consultant team
- 5. Your target dates
For the early design stage, see our early contractor involvement service.
Frequently asked questions
Which Australian state has passed a law on prefabricated buildings?
NSW. The Building (Approvals and Practitioners) Act 2026 passed Parliament on 4 August 2026 and received assent on 14 August 2026, MBA NSW reported.
What has WA announced for housing manufacturers?
The WA Government announced a $49m Housing Innovation Fund for 15 local housing manufacturers on 24 May 2026.
Is there a national certification scheme for MMC manufacturers?
The NCCB is targeting a voluntary national certification scheme for MMC manufacturers for about mid-2028.
Does EcoPrestige build the homes in these programs?
No. EcoPrestige supplies modules. The builder holds the head contract, the site and the approvals.
How many modular social homes are planned in Victoria?
Build Australia reported more than 350 modular social homes planned by mid-2028 across Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Ararat and Gippsland.
Related: our guide to modular construction in South Australia.
Find out which state program fits your next modular job
Send the site, the use and any drawings to prebuilt@ecoprestige.com.au or download our technical brochures.