❓ Opposition Leader McGowan questions Premier Barnett's confidence in Minister O'Brien regarding the Building Act and declining building approvals. Barnett defends O'Brien, citing industry requests for private certification and addressing implementation issues.
AnsweredQoN 605Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BUILDING
MANAGEMENT AND WORKS — FRAUDULENT STATUTORY DECLARATIONS —
MINISTERIAL AWARENESS
605. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Following from the Building
Act disaster when we had a halving of the number of building approvals in this
state under Mr O'Brien's portfolio, does the Premier retain
full confidence in Minister O'Brien's handling of his
portfolio?
MANAGEMENT AND WORKS — FRAUDULENT STATUTORY DECLARATIONS —
MINISTERIAL AWARENESS
605. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Following from the Building
Act disaster when we had a halving of the number of building approvals in this
state under Mr O'Brien's portfolio, does the Premier retain
full confidence in Minister O'Brien's handling of his
portfolio?
AnswerView source ↗
Yes, I do. With respect to the building industry dispute,
members again should remember that it was the building industry that called for
private certification. It was the building industry that called for private
certification along the same lines, I guess now, as applies in Victoria. The
government responded to a request from the industry and, yes, inadvertently
some issues arose, particularly relating to boundaries and seeking approval
from neighbours, when in fact the neighbour's property was a vacant
block of land; it had not been built on and the like. We acknowledge that. That
is why we have brought in measures to correct that situation. But it is also
worth noting that the minister, Hon
Simon O'Brien, went around and met with all the local authorities in
the urban fringe area. Some of the problems related to their interpretation, or
perhaps misinterpretation, of the law and the way in which they were dealing
with it. So, there was a glitch—I do not deny that—and it
caused a lot of stress amongst many builders. However, even though the changes
to the law are not yet through this house, the system has worked over the last
couple of months, and these improvements will make it work in a lot easier way,
as it was intended.
Mr M. McGowan : It hasn't worked. There's
still a reduction.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It has. Building approvals are up; building finance is up;
the housing industry is moving. The Leader of the Opposition needs to address
his issues to the state of the building industry as it is today, and we are
finally seeing some movement in the building industry.
members again should remember that it was the building industry that called for
private certification. It was the building industry that called for private
certification along the same lines, I guess now, as applies in Victoria. The
government responded to a request from the industry and, yes, inadvertently
some issues arose, particularly relating to boundaries and seeking approval
from neighbours, when in fact the neighbour's property was a vacant
block of land; it had not been built on and the like. We acknowledge that. That
is why we have brought in measures to correct that situation. But it is also
worth noting that the minister, Hon
Simon O'Brien, went around and met with all the local authorities in
the urban fringe area. Some of the problems related to their interpretation, or
perhaps misinterpretation, of the law and the way in which they were dealing
with it. So, there was a glitch—I do not deny that—and it
caused a lot of stress amongst many builders. However, even though the changes
to the law are not yet through this house, the system has worked over the last
couple of months, and these improvements will make it work in a lot easier way,
as it was intended.
Mr M. McGowan : It hasn't worked. There's
still a reduction.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It has. Building approvals are up; building finance is up;
the housing industry is moving. The Leader of the Opposition needs to address
his issues to the state of the building industry as it is today, and we are
finally seeing some movement in the building industry.
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