Politics vs building

Politics vs building

From Mindful Builder by Matthew Carland and Hamish White

May 31, 2026 · 57 min · Episode 119

About this episode

The episode features a conversation with David Southwick about the intersection of politics and the building industry in Australia.

We do not usually have politicians on the show, so sitting down with David Southwick , the Planning, Building, and Construction Minister for the Liberal Party’s Shadow government, made for a very different kind of conversation. Less product talk and site detail, more housing policy , building regulation , and the decisions that shape what builders can actually do on the ground. If you work in the construction industry in Australia , this episode is a useful look at the levers that affect your day to day. David’s path into politics is not the usual script. He has been a DJ, a businessman, and a small business owner, and that comes through in how he talks about the industry. A big theme is the need for governments to listen to builders, tradies, and industry experts, not just write rules from a distance. It is a practical conversation about decision-making, consequences, and what happens when policy does not match reality on site. We get into the messy part of the current housing market . Construction costs , interest rates, red tape, delays, and the pressure to increase housing supply fast. But we are not interested in building more homes if they are worse homes. We talk about…

People in this episode

Hosts: Matthew Carland, Hamish White

Guest: David Southwick

Topics covered

  • politics
  • building regulation
  • housing policy
  • construction industry
  • affordability
  • build quality

Keywords

  • construction
  • housing market
  • policy
  • interest rates
  • red tape
  • prefab housing
  • 3D printing

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Liberal Party

Places: Australia

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