Australia: Real Estate and Construction

The construction sector continues to face one of the tightest labour markets in Australia. Demand for housing and major infrastructure has surged, yet the supply of skilled workers has not kept pace. Jobs and Skills Australia data consistently highlights construction trades, such as bricklayers, carpenters, plasterers, and electricians, in persistent deficit.

Failing to address the allocation of cost escalation risk between negotiating parties at the ‘front end’ can create fertile ground for project delays, or even abandonment...

The NSW Parliament has introduced the Building (Approvals and Practitioners) Bill 2026, proposing sweeping changes to the state's building approval system and certifier responsibilities. While the Bill aims to streamline approvals and reduce red tape to meet housing targets, it controversially repeals the unpopular Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 only to reinstate many of its key requirements, potentially facing significant industry opposition particularly from private certifiers whose liability

Thoughts on operation of Qld's "new" Property Law Act – in particular the new concept of the Seller Disclosure regime.

A clear, well-documented disclosure process on behalf of the real estate agent preserves the integrity of the sales process.

Purchasers in NSW have no s66S cooling off period rights where a contract for sale of residential property is formed pursuant to a call option or a put option.

A New South Wales Court of Appeal decision examines whether an unpainted speed hump in a carpark constitutes an obvious risk when all other tripping hazards were marked with yellow paint. The case explores the duty to warn under section 5H of the Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) and establishes important principles for occupiers regarding consistency in hazard marking.

The strata reform is broadly intended to give owners in strata schemes across NSW greater trust and confidence in how strata is regulated.

Amendments to the SSM Act extend the time limit to claim for losses from an owners corporation's failure to maintain common property from 2 to 6 years.

Mr. Elkhouri (Elkhouri) owned Lot 11, a pent­house apart­ment in an 11 lot res­i­den­tial stra­ta scheme at Point Piper, Syd­ney. The lot occu­pied the top two lev­els of the build­ing and includ­ed bal­conies...

A lot owner successfully claimed damages against an owners corporation for breach of statutory duty, with the Tribunal awarding costs under rule 38 despite the final award being under $30,000. The owners corporation's attempts to reduce the claim amount through pre-payments and Calderbank offers were rejected by the Tribunal.

The NSW Parliament has introduced the Building (Approvals and Practitioners) Bill 2026, proposing sweeping changes to the state's building approval system and certifier responsibilities. While the Bill aims to streamline approvals and reduce red tape to meet housing targets, it controversially repeals the unpopular Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 only to reinstate many of its key requirements, potentially facing significant industry opposition particularly from private certifiers whose liability