❓ Mr Leary questions the Minister for Commerce about plumbing defects in former Nicheliving customers' homes and the government's response. The Minister acknowledges the issue and ongoing investigation, promising to improve information for affected homeowners, but defers answering the specific number of rectification notices.
AnsweredQoN 505Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Nicheliving—Plumbing defects505.Mr Scott Learyto
theMinister for Commerce:I refer to former Nicheliving
customers, like Kathy Ellis, who have endured years of financial and emotional
distress due to the Cook Labor government's failure to act swiftly against the
company. Many are now facing repairs to substandard work, including serious
plumbing failures causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage, to have homes
completed.(1) Has the minister been made aware of any
further plumbing issues affecting former Nicheliving customers and, if so, what
is the scale of the problem?(2) How many rectification notices have been
issued by the Building and Energy division in relation to these plumbing
defects?
theMinister for Commerce:I refer to former Nicheliving
customers, like Kathy Ellis, who have endured years of financial and emotional
distress due to the Cook Labor government's failure to act swiftly against the
company. Many are now facing repairs to substandard work, including serious
plumbing failures causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage, to have homes
completed.(1) Has the minister been made aware of any
further plumbing issues affecting former Nicheliving customers and, if so, what
is the scale of the problem?(2) How many rectification notices have been
issued by the Building and Energy division in relation to these plumbing
defects?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 October 2025
Response time
0 days
Dr Tony Buti replied:I congratulate the member on the first commerce
question for the year.(1) Kathy Ellis was contacted by Building and
Energy, and inspectors have identified that noncompliance with plumbing
standards has caused leaking. They are finalising the investigation. I have
requested as a matter of urgency that the agency update the information available
to people who have had their builder collapse with the intention to help home owners
be better informed about the situation and to outline the appropriate pathway
forward. Since the agreement reached with Nicheliving directors to discontinue
their appeals, affected customers have been able to make claims under their
home indemnity insurance policies and finish their building projects. If
building projects are now complete and defects are found, home owners should be
working with a new builder to fix the issue. If home owners remain unsatisfied,
they can lodge a building service complaint with Building and Energy for
investigation.(2) It would have been nice to have some notice of
the question about the specific number, but if the member puts that on notice,
I will answer it.
Nicheliving—Plumbing defects
question for the year.(1) Kathy Ellis was contacted by Building and
Energy, and inspectors have identified that noncompliance with plumbing
standards has caused leaking. They are finalising the investigation. I have
requested as a matter of urgency that the agency update the information available
to people who have had their builder collapse with the intention to help home owners
be better informed about the situation and to outline the appropriate pathway
forward. Since the agreement reached with Nicheliving directors to discontinue
their appeals, affected customers have been able to make claims under their
home indemnity insurance policies and finish their building projects. If
building projects are now complete and defects are found, home owners should be
working with a new builder to fix the issue. If home owners remain unsatisfied,
they can lodge a building service complaint with Building and Energy for
investigation.(2) It would have been nice to have some notice of
the question about the specific number, but if the member puts that on notice,
I will answer it.
Nicheliving—Plumbing defects
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