Focus: Queensland Government response to the Inquiry into the Operation and Performance of the Queensland Building Services Authority 2012
Services: Property & Projects
Industry Focus: Energy, Resources & Infrastructure, Property

Overview

Reviving and growing a strong and sustainable construction industry is one of the Newman Government's "four pillars" in a policy intended to reinvigorate the Queensland economy.

As part of the policy, the Government has recently published a 'Ten Point Action Plan' which overhauls the state's building industry regulator, the Queensland Building Services Authority (QBSA).

The key question to be answered is whether the plan will achieve its objective of reviving the construction industry.

The plan will have different implications for the various parts of the industry. This article series will focus on the commercial construction industry, and will look at what the plan aims to address, what the plan proposes, and whether its implementation will achieve its aims and the overall objective.

Background

On 2 August 2012 the Newman Government directed the Transport, Housing and Local Government Committee to inquire and report back to Government on the operation and performance of the QBSA.

On 30 November 2012 the Committee tabled 41 recommendations to the Government after having consulted widely with the public and industry stakeholders.

On 29 May 2013 the Minister for Housing and Public Works, Mr Tim Mander, released the Government's response to the committee's recommendations in the form of a 'Ten Point Action Plan'.

Ten-Point Action Plan – A summary

  1. Replace the QBSA with the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC).
  2. Establish the QBCC structure: appoint a professional governing board, with appropriate advisory sub-committees, a commissioner as chief executive, and functional business units headed by respective general managers.
  3. Establish an internal review unit with the objective of reducing the number of applications for review (of QBSA decisions) made to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT).
  4. Develop an improved suite of domestic building contracts to better balance the equity between consumers and builders.
  5. Review the current licensing and compliance system to better manage licensees and enforcement.
  6. Improve the education and training available for home owners and consumers.
  7. Consider a rapid domestic adjudication model, similar to that for commercial disputes pursuant to the Building and Construction Industry Payments Act 2004, to fast track and resolve disputes between consumers and builders.
  8. Review the role of private certifiers with an emphasis on probity, conflicts of interest, quality and an appropriate penalty regime for failure to perform.
  9. Undertake a review of the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme to provide greater definition and clarity to consumers.
  10. Consider expanding the licensing role of the QBCC to include all licensed tradespersons, registration of plumbers and drainers, pool safety inspectors, and related building industry occupations.

A copy of the Government's response and the 'Ten Point Action Plan' is available here.

Timing

The 'Ten Point Action Plan' will be implemented in stages.

The first two actions are set to be completed before the end of 2013 with the following eight actions to be implemented within 12 months after the appointment of the governing board.

Future articles

A series of articles will be published over the coming weeks which will analyse the impact of the plan for commercial builders.

The second article in our series analyses a central plank of the plan - the replacement of the QBSA with a new entity called the Queensland Building and Construction Commission. Is it simply a change in name or is there true reform in its creation? Click here to view.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.