The Registered Master Builders Federation has reiterated its concerns about key unresolved elements of the Government’s Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) scheme launched on November 1.
The long-awaited scheme signals significant and positive change for the construction industry, according to RMBF chief executive Pieter Burghout.
But yet to be finalised regulation around defining “restricted work” and exemptions to owner-builder improvements (those carried out by DIYers) remains of significant concern.
“Unfortunately the proposed DIY exemption allows a loophole for unscrupulous builders to exploit, as was the case when similar exemptions were introduced in Australia and Canada, and this could potentially jeopardise the whole licensing scheme,” Mr Burghout says.
“During the past couple of years, we have worked extensively with the Minister for Building and Construction and the Department of Building and Housing to ensure a licensing regime that is workable for builders and provides solid protection for consumers.
“We are still committed to achieving that outcome.”
The RMBF believes once the issues around defining restricted building work and the DIY exemptions are resolved, the new licensing regime will be good for the industry.
“As much as we would like to be wholeheartedly endorsing the scheme, at this point we aren’t in a position to do so. We need to see the detail around the DIY issue,” Mr Burghout says.
