An Illawarra body has joined the calls for better standards and regulation, in order to restore confidence in the building and construction industry.
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On Thursday, an agreement was struck by Commonwealth, State and Territory building ministers on a national approach to implementation of reforms, which will lead to better enforcement and compliance with building standards and regulation.
The nationally consistent approach is drawn from the recommendations of the Shergold-Weir report regarding industry regulation and reform, released in 2018.
Recommendations focused on the registration and training of practitioners, fire regulations and the role and integrity of building regulators and surveyors.
Ministers agreed to progress the Shergold-Weir reforms through the Australian Building Codes Board.
Property Council Illawarra regional director Michelle Guido said the agreement reached "is a good step forward for our industry in the Illawarra/Shoalhaven region, and across the country as a whole".
"We can have confidence in the fact that NSW has a strong and well-regulated construction industry, and this is evident in the Illawarra/Shoalhaven," she said.
"However, there is more work to be done.
"Implementing the Shergold-Weir recommendations must be a top priority for the NSW Government, and the building industry is currently being consulted on additional reforms announced in NSW earlier this year.
"With increased construction and housing supply needed to cater for growth across the region, reforms that provide transparency and strengthen compliance and enforcement across the building and construction industry that provide more certainty for industry, strengthen public confidence and ensure that we can continue to build homes for our residents are welcomed."
Property Council chief executive Ken Morrison reiterated there was still a lot of hard work to be done, "particularly around a consistent approach to addressing cladding issues and in resolving insurance problems".
"We are pleased that ministers have listened to the concerns of the building, construction, insurance and property industries about the inconsistent approach that has been taken to date, particularly on issues such as combustible cladding, as well as building standards and professional integrity," he said.