The state government will seek to strengthen South Australia’s building laws and increase protections for people undertaking building work, with the most significant review of the state’s building regulations in nearly 20 years.

The review will consider a range of issues including:

• Developing an easier dispute resolution process for consumers and reducing the costs of dispute resolution for all parties.
• The introduction of a permit system for owner-builders to prevent unlicensed builders posing as owner-builders.
• Requiring building inspectors to be registered due to concerns about unqualified inspectors providing shoddy reports.
• Considering whether developers should be regulated to ensure sanctions can be issued where they have failed to fulfil their obligations.
• Ensuring consumers are adequately protected where builders may seek to exploit sunset provisions in contracts.
• Considering whether tougher penalties and new categories of offending are needed for breaches.
• Considering whether mandatory Continuing Professional Development Schemes should be introduced for builders, electricians and plumbers.

The topics for review came from a series of roundtables convened by Minister for Consumer and Business Affairs, Andrea
Michaels and Consumer and Business Services (CBS) with key industry bodies and  training providers.

This review will coincide with a separate review of Building Indemnity Insurance  currently underway by the Treasurer and Minister Michaels.

Public consultation on the building and construction industry is set to begin shortly, with any legislative changes likely to be introduced to State Parliament next year.