Page 3167 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 18 October 2022
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
only suitably qualified professional engineers can undertake certain engineering activities in the ACT such as structural engineering.
In relation to developer regulation, the ACT government remains committed to introducing greater accountability measures for property developers during this term. Introducing greater accountability measures for property developers is another way the ACT government is taking action to increase the accountability of practitioners in the building industry. This is a complex piece of work and an innovative piece of work with no other jurisdiction moving to introduce this model of reform thus far. However, Queensland is also working to develop a model that addresses similar issues.
The Environment Planning, and Sustainable Development Directorate is preparing a discussion paper which will consider various issues and options for improving the accountabilities of developers and providing consumers with greater information about developers and their developments. I look forward to being able to use this discussion to support discussions around the specific elements of a model of developer regulation which will support a new scheme being developed through 2023.
Finally, in relation to public certification services, the government continues to progress work to establish a public sector certification service in response to the commitments in the Parliamentary and Governing Agreement as well as recommendations from the ACT Inquiry into Building Quality. Recently a procurement process began to engage a consultant to undertake a regulatory and economic assessment of the range of options for a government-run building certification service. This work will support government decision making around the specifics of a potential model, with us working to deliver public certification services through this term in the Legislative Assembly.
While we have a strong regulatory system there is a need to ensure that it is further strengthened, particularly to ensure that appropriately qualified building professionals undertake this important work, that there is confidence around the models that support building work, and that we know there is strong accountability in relation to ensuring works are undertaken in a professional manner.
I thank Minister Cheyne, Access Canberra and WorkSafe for their efforts in carrying out the regulatory functions which are the way a strong regulatory system is delivered to ensure community confidence, worker and community safety, and high building quality.
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella—Manager of Government Business, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Industrial Relations and Workplace Safety, Minister for Planning and Land Management and Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (10.26): I thank Minister Cheyne and Minister Vassarotti for their comments this morning on the shoring collapse of the construction site in Dickson.
I am encouraged by their commitment to ensuring a collapse like this does not happen again. As has been noted, if this collapse had occurred during the day with workers on site it could have been a completely different situation. I would like to thank both WorkSafe ACT and Access Canberra inspectors who attended the scene and worked to ensure that safety was the highest priority on the site.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video