The idea in brief: In 2019, as part of a long running prior-election promise to tackle reform to the building and construction industry, the Queensland Government commissioned two reviews: the Building Industry Fairness Reforms Evaluation and Implementation Panel, (the Panel Review) tasked with reviewing the effectiveness of security of payment laws in the building and construction industry; and the Special Joint Taskforce, which investigated complaints of …
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BIF Act Review
As you may know, the Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Act 2017 (the BIF Act) required the Minister for Housing and Public Works to appoint a Building Industry Fairness Reforms Evaluation and Implementation Panel (BIF Act Review Panel) to undertake a review of the operation and effectiveness of the 2017 suite of building and construction reforms and prepare a report of the outcome of its findings. The appointed BIF Review Panel has now released its report. The panel made 20 …
Inconsistent laws are undermining confidence in the residential apartment sector in Australia
The idea in brief The recent Opal and Mascot Towers apartment building failures reveal a messy set of inconsistent laws, nationally, that discriminate between homeowners and apartment owners, undermining confidence in the residential apartment sector. In most States and Territories in Australia, homeowners are protected by statutory warranties that when complete, each new home will be free from defects for a warranty period. Most States and Territories also legislate for the requirement …
Joint taskforce inquiry into fraud in the Queensland building industry: submissions closing
The idea in brief The Queensland Government special joint taskforce into fraudulent behaviour in the construction industry was formed on 28 February 2019 and called for confidential submissions from the public of instances of fraud and non-payment in the industry. The special joint taskforce is headed by a former Supreme Court judge and includes detectives from the Queensland Police, investigators from the Queensland Building and Construction Commission and prosecutors from the …
Federal Government Senate Committee inquiry into mine closure projects fails to reach consensus
The idea in brief: Mine rehabilitation is a key aspect of the resource project life cycle. The failure of inadequate rehabilitation can lead to significant environmental issues – and substantial costs for industry stakeholders, and in their failure or absence, the Australian taxpayer. In February 2017, the Australian Senate referred the Environment and Communications References Committee to inquire and report on the “rehabilitation of mining and resources projects as …