State government votes down parliamentary inquiry into Tasmania’s dodgy builders

The state government has voted down Labor’s bid for a parliamentary inquiry into dodgy builders ripping off home buyers. LATEST >>

THE state government has voted down Labor’s bid for a parliamentary inquiry into dodgy builders ripping off home buyers.

Labor’s Building and Construction spokeswoman Jen Butler moved a motion on Wednesday calling for the establishment of a House of Assembly Select Committee, saying the current system was failing both consumers and builders.

“Our consultation over the last two years has provided us insight into problems within our industry,” she said, “there is insufficient government oversight, our current regulations are simply inadequate.

“Too many consumers are left thousands of dollars out of pocket, ruining them financially.

“Clearly government oversight needs improvement. We have an obligation to learn, develop recommendations and then have the government implement them.”

Jen Butler Labor member for Lyons. David and Bronwyn Barber of Old Beach are battling to have issues with their home fixed originating from when it was build. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Ms Butler recounted the personal stories of Tasmanians who had struggled to resolve expensive disputes over construction projects and said the government was wrongly pretending there were no serious issues with the industry.

“Good governments ask questions and not scared to learn the truth are open to better practices, and then act on those solutions.

“Good governments understand the issues in their community.”

Minister for Workplace Safety and Consumer Affairs Elise Archer said the government was undertaking a process of continual reform.

“Anyone listening this would think that the vast majority of building sites have shonky builders working on them, they don’t,” she said.

Greens leader Cassy O'Connor. Budget estimates 2021. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“It’s not a case where I have buried my head in the sand in fact, quite the contrary. Because I do acknowledge that there are building defect issues.

“This motion is calling on a parliamentary inquiry which won’t do anything. It’s just going to cause delays.

Ms Archer said the next logical step for reform was to enable the newly-established Tasmanian Civil and Administrative to hear disputes about building work — work which is already underway.

The vote on the motion was 12-all in the House of Assembly late on Wednesday as the Greens and independent Kristie Johnston back Labor. Speaker Mark Shelton used his casting vote to defeat the motion.

‘Stuff of nightmares’: Shoddy building work needs urgent fix

DAVID and Bronwyn Barber’s dream home has become the stuff of nightmares as they battle to fix poor workmanship.

Damp proof courses at their Old Beach home was not properly installed, raising the prospect of problems down the track.

Their builder won’t help and they’re now looking at the prospect of expensive legal action.

“The house isn’t built to the National Construction Code which they’re meant to follow,” David Barber said.

David and Bronwyn Barber of Old Beach are battling to have issues with their home fixed originating from when it was build. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“It’s been signed off and now what’s going to happen when the mould starts rising? Who’s going to pay for that? “I don’t think it’s fair that we should have to pay for it.

“We know that we’re not the only ones going through this, we’ve seen and spoken to so many other people that have had dramas with builders and they just have no recourse.”

Tasmania is the only state without home builder warranty insurance and the Barbers face costly legal action if they want their home brought up to standard.

Labor’s Building and Construction spokeswoman Jen Butler said her party would move a motion for a parliamentary inquiry to look this week.

David and Bronwyn Barber of Old Beach are battling to have issues with their home fixed originating from when it was build. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“It’s so important that we get this right, we’re undergoing a boom at the moment, and we have so many cases of our consumers here in Tasmania, that have had problems with problem builders, builders that have had problems with consumers as well, we need to better our system, have a look at how we can going into the future.”

“We’ve received hundreds of complaints and stories from people right across Tasmania where they haven’t been able to rectify situations with their properties from defects, to poor workmanship, to not having any insurance, to builders not being paid by consumers.

“In the middle of a building shortage, it’s time for us to be able to look at where we’re going into the future and how we can improve the system.”

Minister for Workplace Safety and Consumer Affairs Elise Archer accused Ms Butler of spreading misinformation about the “hardworking building industry”.

She said the government has already made significant reform and was looking to further improve consumer protections.

“Labor’s calls for a Parliamentary Inquiry are completely unnecessary and nothing but another Jen Butler stunt in a desperate attempt to get a headline,” she said.

“Labor has failed to acknowledge the significant reform already completed within the industry to strengthen consumer protections and hold builders accountable for fixing defects and unsatisfactory workmanship.

“In addition, the Department of Justice is already currently looking into any further measures that can be taken to make improvements.”

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