Palaszczuk Government leads the way with new building product safety laws

Published Thursday, 24 August, 2017 at 11:23 PM

Minister for Housing and Public Works and Minister for Sport
The Honourable Mick de Brenni

Queensland now has the most comprehensive building product safety laws in the country after the Palaszczuk Government passed new chain of responsibility laws for dangerous building products.

Minister for Housing and Public Works Mick de Brenni said the Building and Construction Legislation (Non-Conforming Building Products-Chain of Responsibility) Amendment Bill 2017 will help make sure building products used in Queensland are safe and fit for their intended use.

“Yet again Queensland is leading the way on the issue of non-conforming building products,” said Mr de Brenni.

“Today we have delivered the most comprehensive building product laws in Australia.

“These tough new laws put the responsibility for safety on everyone in Queensland’s building supply chain, rather than just the tradie at the end of the line.

“Whether you are a manufacturer, importer, supplier or installer, if your behaviour lets a dangerous product onto a Queensland building site you will be responsible and will be accountable.”

Minister de Brenni said the new laws will help close the door on importers dumping dodgy products – including flammable aluminium composite cladding – onto Queensland building sites.

“The proliferation of cheap, imported, substandard products entering our country is a risk to the health and safety of all Queenslanders gathering for events at public places, when they go to work in a modern office tower, when they visit major shopping centres and even when they return home at the end of the day,” he said.

The changes substantially expand the powers of the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC).

These powers will assist the government’s Audit Taskforce in their work responding to potentially dangerous cladding in Queensland.

“Previously, the QBCC could inspect only active building sites,” said Mr de Brenni.

“These new measures allow inspectors to enter existing buildings, take samples for testing and direct rectifications, and the State Government will be able to recall products that are non-conforming, and issue warnings about them.

“These laws should give Queenslanders confidence that there is a tough cop on the beat ensuring the spaces where they live, work and play are the safest in the country,” Mr de Brenni said.

 

ENDS

Media Contact: Tristan Douglas 0447 164 197