Page 1398 - Week 05 - Thursday, 18 June 2020
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
bill will have to wait until 2022. I would like to think that under a territory Liberal government Canberrans will not have to wait until 2022.
The aspirations in this bill are desirable aspirations. They are badly needed. They are long overdue in every sense of the word. This side of the chamber will not be opposing this legislation.
MS LE COUTEUR (Murrumbidgee) (6.23): The Greens will be supporting this bill. Most of the bill consists of minor and technical changes, such as updating terminology to match recent changes to terminology in the national building code. As I have said, in cases like this the Greens are very happy to support minor legislative changes that assist the public service in their work, provided the changes are consistent with our environmental, social and economic values. We have reviewed this bill and we believe it is consistent with these values.
Like Mr Parton, I will discuss briefly the new building dispute resolution process. Like him, I think that, in principle, it is a good idea. I sincerely hope that many people who get into disputes with builders will be able to use it and get a satisfactory outcome.
Sadly, though, it is not going to stop all disputes from reaching the courts and it is not going to stop the steady flow of buyers of new apartments who end up with severely defective apartments through no fault of their own. The reality is that some developers in Canberra have made it their business model to develop faulty apartment buildings and then walk away, leaving the new owners to bear the cost.
It is notable that there are very few defective commercial buildings but a very large number of defective apartment buildings. Most large commercial building projects have an experienced future owner, such as a major property fund or shopping centre owner. These organisations have their own teams of experts and lawyers breathing down the builders’ necks. Apartment buyers, on the other hand, have none of that; they have to rely on the regulatory system.
Since the deregulation of the industry several decades ago, the regulatory system, both here in the ACT and around Australia, has not been strong enough to protect people such as groups of apartment buyers. There has been quite a lot of toughening by Minister Ramsay and Access Canberra over the last two years, which has been pleasing to see, but I believe there is more to be done.
I am afraid I have to agree with my colleague Mr Parton that members who return to this Assembly in four months time are going to be dealing with this issue again in the next term. I wish them well in their endeavours.
MR RAMSAY (Ginninderra—Attorney-General, Minister for the Arts, Creative Industries and Cultural Events, Minister for Building Quality Improvement, Minister for Business and Regulatory Services and Minister for Seniors and Veterans) (6.25), in reply: I will do my best to be brief, noting that, again, it is great to have agreement across the chamber on this matter.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video