Two men fined $40,000 for unlicensed building work after QBCC court action

In a warning to others, two men have copped $40,000 in fines for work on two relatively small jobs, as the Queensland building regulator gets tough on unlicensed builders.

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission is cracking down on unlicensed construction work.

The Queensland building regulator‘s tough stance on unlicensed construction work has resulted in two men receiving $40,000 in fines for activity dating back to 2020.

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission recently prosecuted the men – Gurbuz Oktay and Charles Falevalu Tauvao – in separate cases in Brisbane Magistrates Court.

They were charged with offences that included unlicensed building work, not using a contract that complies with requirements, and demanding excessive deposits from homeowners.

Oktay was also charged with pretending to be a QBCC licensee. He did not appear in court and was convicted of all four offences and fined $25,000 in regard to the to an unlicensed construction of a pergola at a Ferny Grove property in 2021.

Tauvao appeared in court and pleaded guilty to unlicensed building work, not using a contract that complies with requirements, and demanding excessive deposits from homeowners. He was convicted of all three offences and fined $15,000 for his role in unlicensed fencing work at an Aspley property in 2020.

QBCC inspectors conducting audits.

This is the second time both men have committed offences of unlawfully carrying out building work, an offence which attracts an escalating series of penalties for each offence.

For a third or subsequent alleged offence of unlicensed building work, an individual

is required to be prosecuted upon indictment before the District Court, as they are

alleged to have committed a crime.

QBCC acting commissioner Tim Murphy says they have zero tolerance for unlicensed building work as it exposes homeowners to potentially dangerous work, and may not come with the safety net of home warranty insurance coverage.

“The Queensland Home Warranty Scheme is the most accessible scheme in Australia and protects owners if work is incomplete or defective,” he says.

“We take action to protect owners and ensure an even playing field for our licensees who do the right thing by paying their licence fees and insuring their work, and who have years of experience, as well as technical and financial qualifications.”

The QBCC website also offers a free “Find a Local Contractor” search, to find licensed and skilled tradespersons in your area.

On the couch

Jack Hutchinson Jr will be a special guest next month of the Brisbane Business Hub.

Journalist Kendall Gilding will be on the couch with the fifth generation of the 112-year-old Hutchinson Builders.

The 30-something year is a company director and the heir apparent of the one of the largest private builders in Australia which generates $3bn annually.

Hutchinson will be grilled on what it’s like being the guardian of a multi-generational brand, not to mention being responsible for more than 10,000 people who work on a Hutchies site every day.

On a personal note he is a young father and BBC old boy, and has qualifications as a quantity surveyor and licensed builder.

Like his father, current Hutchies chairman Scott Hutchinson, he has a passion for live music. He’s also crazy about pinball and was once ranked 7th in Australia and is a part of Netherworld – a bar and pinball arcade in Fortitude Valley.

On the couch with Jack Hutchinson Jr is on May 9.

Hutchinson Builders director Jack Hutchinson Jr.