‘Time for a reset’: NSW Building Commissioner says he quit voluntarily

Outgoing NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler said he resigned from the role voluntarily three years after he was appointed to lift standards in the construction industry, and he believed it was “time for a reset”.

The NSW Department of Customer Service said on Monday that Chandler – a 40-year veteran of the building industry who became an outspoken critic of the state’s shoddy developers – had tendered his resignation. He will leave the role on November 30.

NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler (2nd from right) has announced he is resigning from his position.Credit: Kate Geraghty

Chandler’s appointment followed a string of building failures – including cracking damage to the Opal Tower and Mascot Towers apartment blocks – that shone a light on the quality of residential construction in NSW.

Addressing speculation over the reasons for his exit on Wednesday, Chandler and Department of Customer Service secretary Emma Hogan said in a joint statement that his decision to step down had been voluntary.

Chandler said: “I believe the time is right for a reset, and I am firmly committed to working with the secretary, the team and industry until the end of my tenure.

“I do not want my resignation to distract people from what has been achieved so far, and the work that is still to be done.”

Hogan said she would start looking for Chandler’s replacement in coming weeks, with hopes the new appointment will be made before his last day on the job.

Chandler’s decision to step down – months after extending his contract to September 2023 – prompted Labor to demand Fair Trading Minister Eleni Petinos to “publicly explain the reasons for this dramatic and premature departure”.

The statement noted there had been public speculation Chandler’s resignation was linked to the findings of a recent internal investigation.

Last month, News Corp reported that Chandler was the subject of an internal probe after video emerged of him telling builders on a construction site that he had given banks an “informal list of certifiers” which had led to some “finding they are unemployable”. The footage followed Chandler’s remarks to NSW parliament last October that his role as regulator did not include recommending particular building certifiers.

Fair Trading Minister Eleni Petinos asked department secretary Emma Hogan to investigate allegations against Chandler, which were found to be unsubstantiated.Credit: Wolter Peeters

Petinos requested Hogan investigate the allegations against Chandler on June 22. They were found to be unsubstantiated, the statement on Wednesday said.

“Secretary Hogan advised Mr Chandler of the findings of the investigation in writing, while also reminding him of his ongoing obligations under the Department of Customer Service code of conduct and ethics,” the statement said.

Hogan thanked Chandler for his customer advocacy, and his leadership on the building reform initiatives.

“He has implemented innovative solutions to a complex problem. I have no doubt these reforms will achieve longstanding positive outcomes for the people of NSW,” Hogan said.

Chandler said he remained “a committed advocate for industry reform and ultimately for NSW customers”.

During the past three years, Chandler helped drive a wave of reforms designed to restore trust and confidence in apartment buildings in NSW.

Among the reforms were sweeping new powers for Chandler to inspect building sites, prevent the issuing of occupation certificates, call for documents, and order rectification of serious defects and recovery of linked costs.

Other changes included tightening requirements for designers, engineers and builders working on new residential apartment buildings. Chandler also helped introduce a star-rating system for developers.

His next focus is Project Remediate, a scheme to replace flammable cladding on residential apartment buildings.

Urban Taskforce Australia chief executive Tom Forrest described Chandler as a “formidable figure”, and said his resignation was a “massive loss for the construction industry” in NSW.

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