Master Builders NT slam government’s building registrations move

New changes proposed to commercial builder registration in the Territory have angered the industry, with some slamming the consultation process. Read the reactions, and take the poll.

The Territory government has been accused of “putting out the trash” after it controversially released changes to builder registration less than a fortnight out from Christmas.

It follows Wednesday’s announcement the government would introduce commercial builder registration in the Territory.

Under the model Infrastructure Minister Eva Lawler announced, Territory builders wanting to construct commercial buildings such as warehouses and offices in the Northern Territory would need to be registered as commercial builders.

She said builders with experience undertaking most commercial building construction, except apartments, would be registered through “grandfathering” based on their experience and would not need to meet qualification standards.

A 12-month transition period following the changes would allow eligible builders to grandfather onto the registration scheme.

Master Builders NT chief executive Ben Carter

“The introduction of registration for commercial builders will bring the Territory into line with other states and territories as part of the National Registration Framework,” Ms Lawler said.

“We are providing a long lead time, particularly for our experienced builders who will need to ‘grandfather’ into the commercial registration scheme.

“Government is working with peak bodies to help the industry prepare for this change.”

Master Builders NT disputed that, saying there had been almost no consultation about the changes.

Master Builders NT chief executive Ben Carter said the announcement showed “a total lack of respect for the industry that employs thousands of Territorians and which continues to drive our economy”.

He said the government was “putting out the trash”, a phrase attributed to the deliberate release of important policy announcements at quiet news times so as to avoid public scrutiny. The announcement was made by media release without an accompanying press conference.

“The government’s approach has got all the hallmarks of a sneaky political game called ‘putting out the trash’,” Mr Carter said.

“We represent the hundreds of builders and building businesses directly affected and we received no meaningful warning that this was coming, not even in recent meetings with ministers.

“This policy would mean hundreds of builders with decades of experience will need to get a uni diploma to continue building and employing people in the Territory.

“It was completely rejected by the industry first time that it was put forward and after months of silence it’s been put out again with barely one week until Christmas and when builders and tradies have stopped work for a well-earned break.

NT Infrastructure Minister Eva Lawler Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

“Master Builders supports licensing for commercial contractors but remains opposed to this appallingly flawed policy.

“It’s a mystery why the government is so set on this policy when it’s been thoroughly rejected by the industry and is going to negatively impact hundreds of builders and tradies.

“It is the builders with decades of experience who are best placed to provide the public with buildings that will inspire confidence in our built environment and yet this policy risks locking them out of a license to operate.

“We understand that the government favours an academic pathway, why we are not sure, but we have proposed that they also adopt a workable pathway based on actual experience on building sites and actual experience of constructing commercial buildings rather than a few years getting a uni degree.

“The grandfathering provisions remain unworkable. There are giants of our industry whose businesses continue to construct major projects who could not secure a license based on what the government is proposing.”

Earlier this year Master Builders ran a high-profile media campaign against builder registration, particularly targeting the requirement meaning NT builders would be unable to register without a university degree.

An NT News poll of more than 400 people showed more than 80 per cent of respondents opposed the changes.

Former Master Builders NT chief executive Dave Malone at the time accused the government of being “elitist and out of touch”, saying the changes would mean builders with many years experience would be excluded in favour of those with minimal experience and a university degree.

Neil Sunners, who built Evolution, the Territory’s tallest building, said under the changes he would have been unable to register as a builder if he hadn’t been working in the industry or been building for the past three years.

The government also faced friendly fire from within, with Labor minister Chansey Paech saying apprenticeships and not university degrees were “historically” the pathway to building and construction jobs.