❓ Mr. Love questions the Premier regarding support for Nicheliving customers awaiting a SAT decision and criticises the Premier's lack of engagement. The Premier expresses disappointment with the SAT decision and outlines government actions, including opposing Nicheliving's appeal and exploring options to support affected customers.
AnsweredQoN 568Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
NICHELIVING
568. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is one
of the occupational hazards of the job.
I refer to the State Administrative
Tribunal's decision to grant Projex Management and Construction,
trading as Nicheliving, a stay, returning its building registration, and note
that a decision from SAT is not expected until February 2025.
(1) What is the
government doing to support the hundreds of Nicheliving customers like Katrina
Bourne, who is in the gallery today, who will be kept in limbo for a further
six months as they await a decision from SAT?
(2) Why have the
Premier and the Minister for Commerce ignored urgent requests to meet with
Nicheliving customers following SAT's decision on 23 August?
568. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is one
of the occupational hazards of the job.
I refer to the State Administrative
Tribunal's decision to grant Projex Management and Construction,
trading as Nicheliving, a stay, returning its building registration, and note
that a decision from SAT is not expected until February 2025.
(1) What is the
government doing to support the hundreds of Nicheliving customers like Katrina
Bourne, who is in the gallery today, who will be kept in limbo for a further
six months as they await a decision from SAT?
(2) Why have the
Premier and the Minister for Commerce ignored urgent requests to meet with
Nicheliving customers following SAT's decision on 23 August?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) The
government is obviously disappointed that the State Administrative Tribunal has
granted a temporary stay on the Building Services Board's decision to
not renew the building registration of Nicheliving. The government and the
board opposed the stay application in SAT, as we believed it was not in the
best interests of the many customers who are still waiting to have their home
built. Our key focus is to make sure that those people who have been waiting
for so long to get into their homes can get into their homes as soon as
possible. That is why it is important to note that the removal of Nicheliving's
registration as a builder means those people can access the home indemnity
insurance scheme that is there for these specific circumstances to make sure
that people get relief and their homes can be completed. While the SAT process continues, Nicheliving customers will
not be able to progress their home indemnity insurance claims through
QBE, and that is very disappointing.
The state government will continue to
oppose Nicheliving's appeal against its deregistration and we are extremely disappointed that the appeal will not be
heard until November, despite state government lawyers requesting an
earlier hearing. QBE will contact customers who have started the claims process
to provide updated guidance. In the interim, the government is looking at what
options it might have available to support customers and progress stalled home
builds.
If
members of the public or home owners want to take alternative or their own
legal action, we obviously urge them to do so by taking independent
legal advice on their own specific circumstances. But, Madam Speaker, I just
say that this is a really disappointing outcome. I think that Nicheliving has
done a disservice to its customers, and that is a very disappointing set of
circumstances. Some of these people have literally waited years to get into the
homes that they put good, honest money on the table to have built, and they
should be rewarded by having a roof over their heads in their own homes today.
We will continue to pursue this issue
and explore what other options might be available. We absolutely sympathise
with the members of the public who are struggling with this ordeal, and we hope
to bring it to resolution as soon as possible.
government is obviously disappointed that the State Administrative Tribunal has
granted a temporary stay on the Building Services Board's decision to
not renew the building registration of Nicheliving. The government and the
board opposed the stay application in SAT, as we believed it was not in the
best interests of the many customers who are still waiting to have their home
built. Our key focus is to make sure that those people who have been waiting
for so long to get into their homes can get into their homes as soon as
possible. That is why it is important to note that the removal of Nicheliving's
registration as a builder means those people can access the home indemnity
insurance scheme that is there for these specific circumstances to make sure
that people get relief and their homes can be completed. While the SAT process continues, Nicheliving customers will
not be able to progress their home indemnity insurance claims through
QBE, and that is very disappointing.
The state government will continue to
oppose Nicheliving's appeal against its deregistration and we are extremely disappointed that the appeal will not be
heard until November, despite state government lawyers requesting an
earlier hearing. QBE will contact customers who have started the claims process
to provide updated guidance. In the interim, the government is looking at what
options it might have available to support customers and progress stalled home
builds.
If
members of the public or home owners want to take alternative or their own
legal action, we obviously urge them to do so by taking independent
legal advice on their own specific circumstances. But, Madam Speaker, I just
say that this is a really disappointing outcome. I think that Nicheliving has
done a disservice to its customers, and that is a very disappointing set of
circumstances. Some of these people have literally waited years to get into the
homes that they put good, honest money on the table to have built, and they
should be rewarded by having a roof over their heads in their own homes today.
We will continue to pursue this issue
and explore what other options might be available. We absolutely sympathise
with the members of the public who are struggling with this ordeal, and we hope
to bring it to resolution as soon as possible.
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