QBCC takes no action against carpenter who pleaded guilty to stalking

Queensland’s building industry regulator has taken no action against a carpenter who pleaded guilty to stalking late last year after threatening to smash a council worker’s head “into a pulp’’.

The QBCC has taken no action against Nathan Slonim.

A Sunshine Coast carpenter remains free to trade even though he pleaded guilty to stalking late last year after threatening to smash a council worker’s head “into a pulp’’ and later trying to sideswipe his car.

Queensland’s much-maligned building industry regulator has taken no action against Nathan Joseph Slonim, who was sentenced in Maroochydore District Court in early November to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission has a broad range of disciplinary powers and could cancel or suspend his license, impose a fine or conditions, or merely issue a reprimand.

Critics say the failure to do anything in the matter continues a long history of reluctance to discipline licensees despite a QBCC policy saying it expects them “to be fit and proper persons at all times’’. Records show just 13 tradies have been sanctioned since 2018.

“It is inconceivable that the proven criminal behaviour of the licensee in this case could be considered consistent with proper standards in the industry,’’ one building sector insider said.

Nathan Joseph Slonim

The court heard that Mr Slonim had been ordered in early 2019 to demolish an illegally constructed carport in front of his Mooloolaba home after a building application for the project had been denied.

 That sparked a furious response from Mr Slonim, who started texting and calling the work mobile phone of the council worker responsible for the decision.

 “You said to him…‘I‘m coming after you and I will smash your head into a pulp into the ground and I won’t stop’,” Judge Jennifer Rosengren said.

Mr Slonim then confronted the building certifier in person and sought a physical altercation.

“You were immediately aggressive, inviting him to fight, telling him, ‘Come on you f--ker, right here on the street now’,” Ms Rosengren said.

“You yelled at him, ‘I’m going to f--k you up you fat f--k’.

Following this provocation, Mr Slonim repeatedly tailgated the victim later that day and then attempted to sideswipe his vehicle, the court was told.

The council employee became so fearful for his safety that he kept a baseball bat near the front door of his home.

Mr Slonim, 44, declined to comment on Wednesday.

Records show he launched now-defunct business BuildWiser Carpentry in Sydney in 2012 and it ceased operating in 2016.

He then moved north in 2017 and, under a “mutual recognition’’ policy between the states, has been licensed in Queensland, where he trades under the banner of BuildWiser Carpentry based in Mooloolaba.

The court heard that he also had a dated criminal history in NSW.

In his defence, Mr Slonim’s counsel said the stalking was brief and out of character, with the issue taking a toll on his mental health. His offer of compensation was declined by the victim.

The court put a 10-year restraining order in place which bans Mr Slonim from contacting the victim. A conviction was recorded in the case.

Public Works and Procurement Minister Mick de Brenni

A spokesman for Public Works and Procurement Minister Mick de Brenni declined to comment Wednesday other than to say the case is an “operational matter for the Commission’’.

A QBCC spokeswoman also would not address the specifics of Mr Slonim’s case, citing privacy laws.

But she said the agency “takes the protection of the community seriously and expects high standards from licensees’’.

“Any criminal conduct of which the QBCC becomes aware will be carefully considered and action taken if appropriate,’’ she said.

“The QBCC follows a required process which includes an opportunity for a licensee to make representations in respect of their licence. All relevant information available to the QBCC is considered when determining whether a person is fit and proper to hold a licence.”

Shadow Minister for Housing and Public Works Tim Mander

But Shadow Minister for Housing and Public Works Tim Mander accused the QBCC of “dangerous negligence’’ regarding Mr Slonim and said it was indicative of a disturbing pattern.

“Here we go again. The list of abhorrent QBCC failures is getting longer, proving time and time again they can’t get the basics right,’’ he said .

“If the Queensland building watchdog can’t strike out criminal tradies, then what on earth are they doing? The QBCC is a rudderless mess and it starts at the top. Mick de Brenni has got to go.”

The latest embarrassment for the QBCC comes as an external review of the beleaguered regulator is under way, headed by Jim Varghese, a director of Springfield City Group and a ­former government department director-general.