Page 400 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 21 March 2023
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appreciate the hard work behind this petition. I would also like to acknowledge the second petition that will be tabled next week concerning the safety around Harrison education precinct. These two petitions are complementary and highlight the level of community concern about the safety in this area.
Building—proposed developer licensing scheme—petitions 29-22
and 37-22
MS VASSAROTTI (Kurrajong—Minister for the Environment, Minister for Heritage, Minister for Homelessness and Housing Services and Minister for Sustainable Building and Construction) (10.28): I rise briefly to comment on the ACT government response to the petitions tabled by Mr Pettersson on property developer regulation and licensing. I warmly welcome the community’s interest in this important issue. I note on the record that the ACT government remains committed to introducing property developer regulation within the current term, to provide greater accountability for property developers within the building and construction industry. I know the importance of ensuring regulation in the building and construction industry that supports health, safety and wellbeing of our community. Confidence in the regulatory system is critical for the economic sustainability of the building and construction industry.
Developing a regulatory scheme is something we have been actively working on in recent months, with consultation occurring with industry and interested parties on the best model to deliver on our aim to ensure that when Canberrans engage with the developer, the developer will be competent, will be transparent and will act ethically. This policy development process is analysing the best measures for achieving greater accountability for property developers within the building regulatory system and for providing consumers with greater information about developments and the developers that sit behind them.
Prior to Christmas, the ACT government released a comprehensive discussion paper that considers various issues and options. This paper considers the broad range of obligations of a developer spanning construction, consumer protection, contractual relationships, occupational health and safety, and employment and industrial relations. Engagement with key stakeholders commenced in December 2022 and the paper was used to inform these discussions and seek feedback. A community consultation was undertaken through the YourSay portal from 30 January 2023 to 27 February 2023. Through this period, the ACT government has engaged with a range of stakeholders and is working to develop the proposed scheme. This will focus on: providing greater accountability for property developers within the building and construction industry; holding property developers to account for matters over which they have influence or control; enhancing consumer and public trust and confidence in the building and construction industry, particularly in the development process; supporting the growth of the industry, shaping its behaviour and supporting a robust, efficient and professional building and construction industry; improving the quality of buildings in the ACT; avoiding unnecessary regulatory duplication, burden and cost and complementing existing regulatory settings.
I look forward to updating the Assembly and the community as we work through the final details.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
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