Expert Panel’s Review of Victoria’s Building System

The Victorian Government has established the Building Reform Expert Panel to lead its review of the building legislative and regulatory system.

The Expert Panel has been asked to advise on the changes necessary to ensure that Victoria’s building regulatory system:

• delivers safe, compliant, durable, affordable and sustainable housing and buildings efficiently and effectively;
• protects consumers and improves confidence in the industry and regulators;
• supports skilled and experienced practitioners to carry out compliant and safe practices; and
• supports regulators to effectively and efficiently enforce compliance

A staged approach to the review, comprising three stages, will be delivered over two years from 2021.

This approach enables significant changes to start to be implemented in 2021, with further reforms to be delivered in 2022 and, finally, a new Building Act in 2023.

The Panel has decided to include the following aspects of the building regulatory system in Stage One:

• Practitioner registration
• Building approvals
• Regulatory oversight
• Consumer protection

These aspects are included in Stage One because they are priority areas for reform that will help to underpin a robust and growing construction sector at this critical time in economic recovery.

In Stage Two, the Panel will identify opportunities to improve building information, regulator tools and powers, statutory duties of care as well as consider any further improvements in the Stage One reforms.

Finally, in Stage Three, the Panel will consider the legislative framework for the new Building Act.

Council's Submission

Read the submission by Nillumbik Shire Council here