Earlier this week, the NSW Government announced plans to make new laws to improve the building and construction industry.
The Government intends to introduce laws that will make builders liable for defects in a wider variety of circumstances.
One of the key announcements is the Government’s plan to impose on builders a duty of care to enable owners corporations of commercial and mixed use buildings to take action against builders for defects.
The Government also proposes to: require builders and designers to be registered; require designers and engineers to declare that building plans comply with the Building Code of Australia; and force builders to declare that buildings have been built according to their plans.
There is also a proposal to appoint a Building Commissioner to take over part of NSW Fair Trading’s role in the building and construction industry.
The Government’s announcement comes hard on the heels of the public outcry following the recent problems experienced by owners in Sydney’s Opal Tower.
The announcement acknowledges that there are significant problems in the building and construction industry and indicates that the Government proposes to adopt most of the key recommendations made in the Shergold Weir Report.
With a State election just around the corner, it remains to be seen if anything comes from the Government’s announcement. We will certainly watch on with interest.
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