Building Stronger Foundations: Discussion Paper
In February 2019, the NSW Government released their response to the Shergold Weir Building Confidence Report which included supporting the vast majority of the Report’s recommendations as well as an additional four reforms.
Due to recent events impacting the residential building industry and the Mascot Towers evacuation on 14 June, the NSW Government is now making building reforms a priority.
These reforms include:
· A requirement for buildings to be designed and constructed to plans that fully comply with the Building Code of Australia,
· A requirement that all building practitioners, including building designers, architects and engineers, be registered to ensure they have the appropriate skills and insurance, and can be held accountable for their actions,
· Introduction of a new industry-wide principle of duty of care, enabling home owners to seek compensation if a building practitioner has been negligent, and
· Appointment of a Building Commissioner, who will regulate all aspects of the NSW building industry and have the power to investigate and take disciplinary action for improper conduct.
The NSW Government has released a discussion paper Building Stronger Foundations.
This discussion paper takes the first steps in implementing the NSW Government Response to the national report Building Confidence: effectiveness of compliance and enforcement systems for the building and construction industry across Australia, prepared by Professor Peter Shergold AC and Ms Bronwyn Weir.
The discussion paper includes a status update on the 24 recommendations in the report as well as expanding on the four additional reforms that were announced in the NSW Government Response. The discussion paper outlines further information on these four reforms and presents 30 questions requesting feedback.
The closing date for submissions is 23 July 2019.
To ensure full consultation on these reforms we will be conducting consultation with the industry, utilising its Building Reforms Working Group to provide feedback and will be drafting a submission with input from members.
Read the discussion paper here. We welcome all views and comments and if you would like to provide feedback, please send an email to Emma Ashton at [email protected]