Certifiers welcome NSW Government’s Proposed Reforms to Construction Industry.

The Association of Accredited Certifiers (AAC) has today welcomed the announcement by the NSW Government that it will introduce reforms to the construction industry. AAC has been calling for significant reforms to the industry to improve accountability and better protect consumers and today’s announcement goes a long way to achieving this. AAC CEO, Jill Brookfield said today’s announcement was overall a positive step forward.

“AAC welcomes today’s announcement from the NSW Government, which if implemented correctly, will improve accountability in the construction industry,” Ms Brookfield said.

“We have been advocating since 2003 for many of these improvements, including licensing all building design and construction personnel and ensuring all persons involved are accountable for their work.”

Ms Brookfield stressed that it was vitally important that all proposals involving the licensing of building professionals, designers and builders had to be covered by professional indemnity insurance.

“For any broader licensing or accreditation scheme to work, it is crucial that this includes ensuring all persons must be covered by professional indemnity insurance, just like Accredited Certifiers currently are.”

Ms Brookfield added that the AAC looked forward to working with the NSW Government and all stakeholders on the implementation of these reforms.

“Whilst we look forward to working with NSW Government on implementing these reforms, like any change, the devil is in the detail.”

The AAC recently released an eight-point plan to improve accountability in the construction sector in NSW, which includes:

1. All professionals involved in the design, installation and approvals process must be accredited and insured.
2. All key personnel in the process who are not accredited must be licensed and be required to prove their competency at regular intervals.
3. All documents related to the certification of a building should be in a standard form developed by industry and Government.
4. All persons involved in the certification of any engineering design or technical aspect of construction must issue a certificate on a standard form.
5. Comprehensive auditing of all accredited or licensed persons.
6. All parties involved in the building product supply chain need to be accountable for the products they prescribe, specify, purchase and use.
7. Amend the BASIX scheme to allow applicants to design buildings based on predetermined standards.
8. Strengthen the administration of building regulation in NSW by bringing building regulations and control functions into one portfolio, reporting to one Minister.

To find out more about the role of Accredited Certifiers and AAC, visit: Association of Accredited Certifiers.