The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) has penalised 29 building practitioners a total of $180,750 from December 2021 to February 2022 for various breaches of the Building Act and Building Regulations.
Breaches have included failure to call for mandatory inspections, failure to comply with directions to fix non-compliant work, issuing building permits inconsistent with applicable planning permit requirements and using false certificates of insurance.
The VBA’s Executive Director, Regulatory Operations, David Brockman said that it was a practitioner’s obligation to comply with the rules and keep Victorians safe.
“The VBA takes its role as regulator seriously, promoting safe and resilient buildings, and ensuring communities and industry reach their potential,” Mr Brockman said.
“We do this by supporting a thriving and trusted industry that acts with integrity, and by taking action against those who do not follow the rules.”
Mr Brockman said the VBA worked to ensure consumers had trust in the industry and so that practitioners who did the right thing weren’t hindered by those who cut corners and put lives at risk.
“Regulating Victoria’s built environment does more than ensure safety – it helps industry and community reach economic and social potential.
“We maximise the industry’s contribution toward social and economic recovery and growth, by creating confidence to build with and invest in an accountable, compliant industry that is active and well-regulated.”
Last year was another record year of building permit approvals in Victoria, with data showing 127,792 building permits, worth $44.6 billion were issued, an increase of more than 14,000 (or 12.66 per cent) from 2020.
In December last year, the VBA used its powers to immediately suspend a practitioner and then disqualify them from working for three years, for using fraudulent domestic building insurance certificates.
This is the second time the regulator has taken this strong action this financial year.
Practitioners can apply to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) for review of a decision.
Victorians wanting to check if their builder or plumber is registered visit vba.vic.gov.au/find
The VBA has an online consumer resource portal with information for anyone who is experiencing issues with builders or plumbers.
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