The Hodgman Liberal Government’s reforms to building legislation will make gaining approvals to build in the State fairer, faster, simpler and cheaper.
Today, I opened the Australian Institute of Building Surveyors (AIBS) Tasmanian Chapter Conference in Hobart, where there was strong enthusiasm for our reforms.
Building surveyors play an important role in our critical building and construction industries, which employ close to 20,000 Tasmanians, and this is reflected in our regulatory reforms.
Our new Building Regulatory Framework will come into effect on 1 January 2017 following significant training and information programs for industry stakeholders.
Under the reforms, building surveyors will be able to approve low and medium risk building work, which will cover a wide range of projects up to, and including, two-storey homes.
Building surveyors will also be licensed rather than accredited, and the code of conduct has been updated.
Additionally, there is strengthened immunity from liability for private building surveyors, and they will be able to issue occupancy permits and temporary occupancy permits.
The agenda for today’s conference includes a presentation and workshop provided by my department’s project manager, Beth Warren, on what the reform changes will mean for building surveyors.
This illustrates our commitment to ensuring the reforms are well understood.
We have worked very closely with industry, including the AIBS, in developing the reforms, and we will continue to do so to help create jobs and grow the economy.
Recognising our reforms as nation-leading, AIBS chief executive officer Brett Mace said the institute supported the registration of all practitioners in the building and construction industries.
“This is a major step towards greater accountability throughout the building supply chain and will greatly assist to control serious issues in the industry, including the prevalence of non-conforming products, which have caused major problems in buildings in other states,” Mr Mace said.
“Tasmania is leading the way nationally.”
More Media Releases from Guy Barnett
More Media Releases from the Minister for Building and Construction