The Building Ministers’ Forum (BMF) recently held its first meeting for 2018 and discussed the findings of an independent report with recommendations to improve Australian building safety and compliance.
The report, Building Confidence – Improving the effectiveness of compliance and enforcement systems for the building and construction industry across Australia, was prepared by Professor Peter Shergold AC and Ms Bronwyn Weir.
The report’s conclusions and recommendations provided the BMF with a significant package of reforms intended to strengthen the effective implementation of the National Construction Code (NCC).
Minister for Small and Family Business, the Workplace and Deregulation, the Hon Craig Laundy MP, said that safety is top priority when it comes to building regulation.
"This report is our roadmap for reform, and I very much hope the states and territories will carefully consider the report and improve their compliance systems accordingly,'' Minister Laundy said.
"The building industry has been calling for greater coordination between all levels of government on reform. It is important that we do not lose momentum in progressing this work.
“I look forward to hearing how jurisdictions will incorporate these recommendations into their efforts to improve compliance."
Ministers will examine the report’s findings and recommendations in detail and have agreed to discuss future directions and next steps at the next BMF meeting.
The BMF communique is available on the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science website.