The Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) is asking the federal government to support the sustainable development of the construction industry by introducing tax cuts for green building initiatives.
The nation is currently waiting for the Labour government to reveal its budget on May 8. Many hope it will include a tax cut for property developers who are looking to improve the sustainable design of some existing buildings.
Older properties across the country are in need of construction work to make them more energy efficient – a move that the CFMEU believes could reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
"Retrofitting existing buildings to reduce their energy consumption is not speculative or unproven technology and we agree with the Property Council that it is 'payment on delivery' in terms of greenhouse abatement," CFMEU national secretary of construction Dave Noonan said on May 2.
Mr Noonan also believes that support for sustainable development could open up thousands of jobs in the construction industry.
The Northern Territory recently released its state budget for 2012 which includes $1.3 billion towards the improvement of its infrastructure.
$1.2 billion was also allocated to health, including $10.3 million to start construction of the Palmerston hospital – a project that looks to total $110 million.