Labor will this week ask the Tasmanian Parliament to establish greater
protections for the building industry and homeowners after a rash of needlessly
unresolved housing construction issues.
Shadow Building and Construction Minister Jen Butler said it was beyond
time for the Parliament to establish an inquiry to take a forensic look at the
future of the building and construction industry in Tasmania and how both
consumers and the industry can be offered better protection.
Ms Butler said the proposed inquiry would examine the adequacy of
current legislation and regulation available to Consumer, Building and
Occupational Services to investigate and compel builders to fix defective work.
“I urge the Liberals to get on board with this proposal for this
important inquiry,” Ms Butler said.
“Tasmania’s building and construction industry is booming but from
time to time people building new homes are badly let down by shonky builders
and we want to see how we best protect the quality reputation that Tasmanian
builders have.
“The building and construction industry cannot continue to be
undermined by a few shonky builders whose practices frustrate and undermine the
reputation of the whole industry.
“Consumers and homeowners are frustrated because they are
repeatedly facing issues with problem builders and have very little recourse
except taking expensive legal action.
“A lot of the time the consumers have already invested just about
everything that they’ve got into their homes – the biggest asset they will
ever own – and a lot of the time the legal action isn’t in their favour and
takes too long to be resolved.
“I’m regularly contacted about dodgy builders and Tasmanians who are
being left hundreds of thousands of dollars out of pocket.
“It’s time for a serious, genuine inquiry so we can better protect both consumers and the building industry.”
Jen Butler MP
Shadow Building and Construction Minister
