In the media – National
Soft landing for house builders according to national surveyDecember quarter 2017 National Survey points to soft landing for residential building market (25 January 2018). More...
Firefighters Union concerned about unresolved flammable
cladding issue
The United Firefighters Union has expressed concern about the
Federal Government's inaction on regulating the dangerous use
of flammable cladding in the building industry (25 January 2018).
More...
Design Futures Council gets Australian
chapter
A think tank formed to help navigate global trends, challenges and
opportunities for innovation in the architecture, engineering and
construction sectors has launched an Australian chapter (23 January
2018).
More...
Household debt 'extremely elevated' and tipped
to grow
Australia's household debt to income ratio hits nearly 200 per
cent, a level UBS analysts call "extremely elevated" and
"one of the highest in the world" (18 January 2018).
More...
In the media – Victoria
Wind power and battery hub agreement
secured
AusNet Services has secured an agreement with leading French
renewable energy producer, Neoen, to develop the transmission
connection for the 204MW 'Bulgana Green Power Hub' located
near Stawell in the Wimmera region of central western Victoria (16
January 2018).
More...
Two important milestones as Western Sydney Airport site
is cleared for construction
In another milestone towards delivery of Western Sydney Airport,
the last remaining building was cleared from the site and the
official commencement of work to relocate 3.2 kilometres of an
aboveground high-voltage power line by TransGrid with delivery on
track for 2026 (24 January 2018).
More...
Premier Berejiklian must maintain momentum to fix
housing affordability
One year in to Premier Berejiklian's time as Premier, the New
South Wales Government must continue to embrace progress and
implement reforms to improve housing affordability in the State,
according to the Property Council of Australia (23 January 2018).
More...
In the media – Queensland
$400 million Works for Queensland program supports 8,442
regional jobs
The Palaszczuk Government's $400 million Works for Queensland
program is proving itself a jobs-generating powerhouse throughout
Queensland, supporting 8,442 local jobs to November 2017, in a huge
boost for regional economies (23 January 2018).
More...
Far North Queensland companies called to tender for
construction works
The Palaszczuk Government is calling on Far North Queensland
construction companies to tender for construction of nurses'
quarters and the relocation of demountable buildings in Kowanyama
under the Queensland Government's new procurement strategy (18
January 2018).
More...
Published
Australian Bureau of Statistics
17/01/2018 –
Building Activity, Australia, Sep 2017 (cat no. 8752.0
17/01/2018 –
Engineering Construction Activity, Australia, Sep 2017 (cat no.
8762.0)
17/01/2018 –
Construction Activity: Chain Volume Measures, Australia, Sep
2017 (cat no. 8782.0.65.001)
17/01/2018 -
Housing Finance, Australia, November 2017 (cat no. 5609.0)
ACI Construction Briefs
A fortnightly communication highlighting key updates related to
Australia's construction industry.
ACI Construction Brief: Forecasting the outcome of the next Federal
Election (22 January 2018)
Practice and courts
ABCB: Preview of NCC 2016 Volume One Amendment
1
The Amendment preview and Evidence of Suitability handbook are now
available. Accompanying the preview is a
summary of changes, the
Consolidated Performance Requirements preview and a new
Evidence of Suitability Handbook (19 January 2018).
More...
Registration is now open for the 2018 NCC Information
Seminars
In February and March 2018, a representative from the ABCB will be
coming to a capital city near you. Don't miss out on your
opportunity to hear about the following BCA initiatives: NCC 2016
Volume One amendment addressing fire safety; NCC 2019 public
comment draft; The improved CodeMark scheme; and The practical
development and assessment of Performance Solutions. More...
ABCC Code for the Tendering and Performance of
Building Work 2016
The Code
for the Tendering and Performance of Building Work 2016
applies to companies who wish to undertake Commonwealth-funded
building work. Building industry participants covered by agreements
made prior 2 December 2016 have until 29 November 2018 to ensure
their agreements are Code compliant.
Victoria
VBA: Message from the CEO -– Victorian Cladding
Audit
From 1 January 2018, the VBA will lead a state-wide audit of:
apartment complexes, motels and hotels (three storeys and above);
buildings where Victorians gather as a large group, such as
sporting arenas; and schools, private hospitals or aged-care
facilities (two storeys and above).
More...
New South Wales
New South Wales Tender: Supply and delivery of
materials
Hunter Water (NSW) is seeking tenders for the supply and delivery
of road base and construction pipe bedding materials on an as
required basis. The contract is three years, with the option to
extend to four or five years.
Submissions to tender close 8 February 2018.
Proposed Reforms for Buildings with Combustible
Cladding
The New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment
(DP&E) has released a package of proposed
reforms requiring owners to register their building/s with the NSW
Government and engage an expert to do a fire risk assessment of the
cladding. Councils and Fire and Rescue NSW will have powers to
direct owners to register their buildings within a set timeframe if
they have not already done so. The package is on exhibition until
16 February 2018.
More...
Queensland
QBCC: When to lodge your Form 4
As all of the work covered by the single transaction becomes
operational prior to an invoice for the work being issued, a Form
4/4A must be submitted to the QBCC within 10 business days of the
fifth day (18 January 2018).
More...
Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Bill
2017
The State Parliament has passed the
Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Bill
2017, a two-stage adoption process will see the
requirement for mandatory PBAs rolled-out across Queensland. An
initial stage, beginning on 1 January 2018, will see the
requirement applied to government building and construction
projects. A second stage, to begin 1 January 2019, will expand the
application of the mandatory PBA to all building and construction
projects over $1 million.
Cases
Milankov
Designs & Projects Management Pty Ltd -v- Di Latte [2018]
WASC 14
Copyright - Infringement - Innocent infringement – Damages -
Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Plaintiff entitled to award of
damages against both defendants. Damages assessed at $157,825.
Plaintiff entitled to be reimbursed by the first defendants amount
paid by plaintiff to contractor.
This publication does not deal with every important topic or change in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you have found this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances please contact one of the named individuals listed.