19 March 2018

Time to act on building quality

| Michael Hopkins
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The MBA is calling for a system of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training be established for the building industry.

When Canberra’s peak body for the construction industry calls for greater regulation to improve building quality, that should send a clear message to the ACT Government that the state of the building regulatory system is nearing crisis point.

Usually calling for less regulation and more flexible standards, Master Builders ACT has been calling on the ACT Government to intervene to improve building quality since before 2010.

Calls to improve building quality are aimed at protecting consumers, and also protecting the many quality local tradespeople and building companies, from operators that happily cut corners, compromise safety standards, and dodge their legal responsibilities, which ultimately lower standards for everyone.

Master Builders ACT has done what it can to set quality standards for its own membership. A members code of conduct is in place which is regularly enforced in response to community or other industry complaints. The Association also sets a high bar which must be met before accepting new membership applications. However, these measures alone are not enough. An effective building regulatory system that provides an accountability and enforcement framework, effective complaints mechanism, and focus on continual and mandatory industry training is needed.

Before a building license is issued in the ACT, applicants must hold a Certificate IV or bachelor degree (depending on the level of license being applied for), however many Canberran’s would be surprised to find out there is no system requiring ongoing training to maintain their knowledge of current industry issues. Hence, the MBA is calling for a system of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training be established for the industry. This would work similar to many other professionals that have a CPD system to ensure ongoing training in current standards.

Many Canberran’s would also be surprised to find out that the majority of contractors working in the industry don’t even require a license before working on a construction site. In the ACT, builders, plumbers, electricians and building surveyors do require a license, however unlike in most other jurisdictions, carpenters, tilers, water proofers, plasterers, bricklayers and many other trades do not require a license.

There are many other reforms needed including the introduction of minimum standards for residential building contracts, mandatory standards for design and documentation, security of payment reform, and minimum financial requirements for builders.

With Canberra about to transform from a regional town into a global city, we think putting in place a modern building regulatory system which protects consumers from defective building work and raises building standards for everyone, is long overdue.

Michael Hopkins is the Chief Executive Officer of Master Builders ACT.

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When your builder engages in activities that seem to be clearly illegal such as:
– Demanding more money after the contract is signed because the supplier has increased their costs (which the builder claimed to have in writing from the supplier) but then was never able to provide any proof for the increase (and the supplier denied any proce increase).
– Not passing GST back to the ATO.
– Demanding reembursement for Land Rent that the builder never paid.
– Claimed extra costs for things the builder new about befiore the contract was signed, but that the builder just “happens” to discover after the contract is signed.
etc etc

And almost no one seems to be interested in doing anything, and those who do try to help, such as Mr Hopkins, seem to have almost no power to do anything.

Then you know the system is broken.

The government knows it is broken, but they get their money so don’t care.

Back in the early 2000s, I was involved with one of the LAPACs (Local Area Planning Advisory Committee) when the then planning minister, Simon Corbell, brought in private certifiers. He was warned very strongly by many community groups, including LAPACs, that building standards were certain to fall. He was strongly encouraged to retain the then current system of government inspectors.

Of course, private certifiers, paid for by builders and developers, became captive to their masters, and building quality has deteriorated ever since.

Let’s get rid of this sham “independent” system and go back to professional, government-employed certifiers and cease this corrupt system.

Capital Retro4:14 pm 19 Mar 18

Is that the same Simon Corbell who tried to convince us light rail was the way to go?

Certifiers and indeed the government before that certify that buildings meet certain planning and standards. They don’t ensure quality which is a different issue and what I thought was being discussed here.

Quality can only be brought about by consumer protection not inspection and regulation.

Don’t hold your breath waiting for the ACT Govt to do anything, they just want to have the boxes ticked and collect the fees. Canberra is the capital for dodgy developments. Leaky rooves, faulty wet areas are normal and the builders know they can get away without an independent building inspector.
When an industry spokesman complains it must be afraid that buying off the plans is scaring off investors. The ACT Govt will take no responsibility and will just have another meeting.

Maybe just also inspectors from the Gov department responsible should be licenced or formerly licenced and have on the job experience, not just people that know how to complete a government job application and have their mates appoint them as an inspector or auditor. And the old line that “the private certifier is responsible under legislation” just doesn’t get the results i’m afraid. Time to take it seriously.

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