New legislation passed in WA is expected to help modernise the building industry, streamline building approvals, introduce private certification and strengthen protection for consumers.
The State’s Commerce Minister Simon O’Brien today announced the Building Services (Registration) Act and the Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration) Act would be implemented from August 2011, and the Building Act is expected to be implemented in October 2011.
“The new building legislation delivers the most significant reform to building regulation for Western Australia in more than 50 years,” O’Brien said.
“The current process for building approvals was established in 1960, and reflected the way buildings were designed and built in the 1950s. Fifty years on, industry and consumers expect more flexibility, clearer processes and better opportunities for innovation, while protecting the rights of consumers.
“Building owners will be able to use registered practitioners in private practice as well as in local government to certify compliance with building standards and undertake mandatory inspections.
“The new laws will see the Department of Commerce’s Building Commission become the principal regulator of building standards and building service providers in Western Australia. Its primary focus will be to promote fair and efficient building and plumbing practice in WA.
“The new legislation will see the abolition of Builders’ Registration Board, the Painters’ Registration Board and the Building Disputes Tribunal. A building commissioner assisted by a building services board, will register building service providers.
“The building commissioner will deal directly with consumer complaints by focusing on resolving them rapidly, before becoming entrenched through the courts. This will provide better protection for consumers who find themselves in dispute with their builder. Intractable disputes will be referred to the State Administrative Tribunal.”
“Western Australia’s building industry is modern and sophisticated and employs more than 10 per cent of the workforce, plus it is an important training ground for young people.
“The State Government has moved quickly to consolidate building regulation into the Building Commission to provide enhanced services to consumers and building industry participants, as well as to support reforms to building approval processes.
“The new consumer dispute process is a significant improvement that I’m confident will be welcomed by both builders and their customers, as it brings certainty and fairness to what is most people’s biggest financial commitment,” the Minister said.
“The new process will allow neighbours adversely affected by building work to seek redress by making a complaint to the Building Commission.
“The reforms introduced will also be of significant interest to the building and property industries, and to homeowners considering building or renovating.
“This is a necessary updating and improvement to the system of building regulation in WA. It will enable greater innovation and efficiency in design, construction, and building maintenance.”
Industry can obtain information and advice from the Building Commission on 1300 489 099, email [email protected] or visit http://www.buildingcommission.wa.gov.au/
Image: dbagroup.com.au
