Victoria launches anonymous ‘dob in a dodgy builder’ scheme to crack down on unregistered tradies
One Aussie state has made a huge move to crack down on unregistered tradies ripping off homeowners – urging people to “dob” them into an anonymous tip off line.
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One Aussie state has moved to crack down on unregistered builders and plumbers using social media to target homeowners – urging people to dob them in for unsafe work.
The Victorian State Government has set up an anonymous reporting scheme aimed at addressing unsafe work and costly repairs by unregistered builders or plumbers – which could leave homeowners being left with no legal recourse or insurance when things go wrong.
Complaints are made to the Victorian Building Authority.
About 10 per cent of complaints to the authority concern unqualified tradies, who often set up the work through social media, job-tasking apps or the tradie database hipages.
Sub-par work from unqualified and uninsured tradies leaves people exposed financially and legally.
The authority has found 33 unregistered workers since mid-October, having scoured 1100 sites. Fire employers were also found to be enabling illegal work.
“Victorians need to be aware of the risks they take in hiring those without the proper registration or license; if something goes wrong their only option is court,” Victorian Building Authority (VBA) commissioner Anna Cronin said.
The anonymous tip-off change is part of sweeping reforms to the Victorian building oversight apparatus.
All responsibilities are being moved into one agency, and inspector and auditor numbers are being doubled.
Master Builders, considered the “national voice” of the $200bn building and construction industry, has backed the tougher rules.
“We support the VBA’s crackdown on unregistered practitioners,” Master Builders chief executive Michaela Lihou said.
“Our members have worked hard to earn their registration and our industry and consumers both deserve to be protected from the efforts of dodgy builders who seem to think they can get away with doing the wrong thing.”
Originally published as Victoria launches anonymous ‘dob in a dodgy builder’ scheme to crack down on unregistered tradies
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