Page 2158 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 2 August 2016
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disincentive. Further amendments address the need for licensees to remain eligible throughout the period for which a licence is held and for the registrar to have information about a licensee’s eligibility as early as possible.
Changes to continue suspensions in certain circumstances mean that licensees suspended pending a decision for a serious breach of licensing or construction laws and people who are no longer eligible to hold a licence cannot continue to operate as a licensee.
The amendments to the Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payments) Act will include a power to create a code of practice for authorised nominating authorities. I understand there is a code of practice already in use and that nominating authorities have established processes to comply with the code, so there will be no disruption to their operations when the existing code is formally made under the act.
I am very pleased to support the Building and Construction Legislation Amendment Bill today and trust that it will deliver improvements in the areas covered so that ACT apartment owners, in particular, can have greater confidence as they make their purchases.
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella—Minister for Planning and Land Management, Minister for Racing and Gaming and Minister for Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations) (5.17), in reply: I thank members for their input into this bill. As I noted when I introduced the bill, the amendments in the Building and Construction Legislation Amendment Bill are integral to a reform package to increase the effectiveness of the ACT building and construction regulatory system. It is important that the regulatory system remains effective over time and keeps pace with changes in industry and community expectations for the built environment across all types of buildings.
This is why the ACT government committed to a review of the ACT Building Act and associated administrative and regulatory systems. The purpose of the review was to consider whether the system is effective in meeting its objectives to uphold minimum standards for buildings and protections against unfair practices. It found that reforms are needed for the regulatory system to achieve better and consistent outcomes for the public and to remain current and relevant for industry, landowners and building occupants.
I recently consulted on reforms in two areas I see as a priority: significantly reducing and minimising serious building defects in residential buildings; and financial losses to both community and industry members. There was widespread support from the industry and the community for reform.
In response, in June I announced that the ACT government is taking action to strengthen the regulation and integrity of the ACT building industry with a series of reforms to the ACT building regulatory system. These reforms will set the parameters for high quality design, building and training practices across the ACT, giving certainty to both property owners and industry. The reforms will improve documentation at the building approval stage; implement a more relevant and
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