Page 420 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 18 February 2020
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
On the Building confidence report, we are a leading jurisdiction. Of the 20Â recommendations that relate to state and territory systems, seven are complete; two of them are of limited relevance given that the ACT does not have multiple layers of government and does not issue retrospective building approvals; and seven of them are partially in place. The recent amendments in the Building and Construction Legislation Amendment Bill, which were called for in the Building confidence report, gave the regulator additional powers to take regulatory action, which completed recommendation 6.
What is disappointing is that in the middle of last year, at the Building Ministers Forum, I called for, and the meeting agreed to, an update to this to be published by the federal government by August 2019. The federal government has not done this. If those opposite want to bring confidence back into the industry, I suggest that they advocate to the federal minister to update the BCR website so that those who are in the industry and in the community have the confidence that nationally we are getting on with the job, making a meaningful difference to the regulation of the industry.
MR PETTERSSON: Minister, can you outline the importance of these reforms?
MR RAMSAY: I thank Mr Pettersson for the question. Indeed I am very pleased to speak on the importance of these reforms. As I have said many times before, both in this place and elsewhere, these reforms are vital. They are designed to bring confidence back to the industry, to reinforce community confidence in the regulator and to provide Canberrans with the highest quality buildings in the country.
They are targeted reforms. They have been well consulted on in the formation of these reports, and they have been methodically and carefully rolled out. They are important, as we believe that some of the best ways to make positive changes in the building industry are in these very reforms.
We know that there are many good builders here in the ACT. We want to support them to continue to do this work. By bringing the standard up right across the industry, by giving the regulator the power to remove those from the industry who do the wrong thing, we are achieving the aims of these reforms.
Most importantly, we are doing these reforms because it will help make sure that Canberrans have the highest quality building in their homes. It is the biggest investment, both financially and in many ways emotionally, that many of us make. I want to ensure that we are doing what we can to see that they are making a very high-quality investment.
Mr Barr: I ask that all further questions be placed on the notice paper.
Supplementary answers to questions without notice
Crime—motorcycle gangs
MR GENTLEMAN: I made a mistake in an earlier answer to Mr Hanson. The advice I have on 31 January is that there are four known criminal motorcycle gangs operating
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video