Building reform surges ahead with new certifiers regulation

The NSW Government is continuing to deliver on its commitment to reforming the building and construction industry, with the release of the draft Building and Development Certifiers Regulation 2019.

Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation Kevin Anderson said the regulation is aimed at simplifying and strengthening the certification system in New South Wales and will allow the Government to more effectively register and regulate the conduct of certifiers.

“This is a vital piece of law that will play a significant role in restoring quality, transparency and quality of work in the building and construction industry,” Mr Anderson said.

They key reforms in the proposed Regulation include:

• Qualifications, skills and experience will be prescribed to grant and maintain registration;
• The independence of certifiers will be improved to provide certainty around when a conflict of interest arises;
• Roles and responsibilities of certifiers to be clarified with a Code of Conduct setting out professional standards;
• greater consumer protections is provided by strengthening contract requirements for certification work.

“The certification process is integral to the sector and to people that call these buildings home, which is why until October 28, we are opening up the proposed Regulation for the public to comment to be considered in the final regulation.

“We recently consulted on the Building Stronger Foundations discussion paper which implements key elements of the NSW Government to the Shergold-Weir report ahead of legislation which will soon be introduced to Parliament, and will continue to deliver changes for the people of NSW,” Mr Anderson said.

To view the draft regulation visit www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au