❓ Question addresses government actions following Benchmark Designer Homes' administration, focusing on identifying affected families and informing them of their rights. The Minister's response details the Building Commission's actions and implies media exposure worsened the situation, shifting responsibility to insurance claims.
AnsweredQoN 377Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
BENCHMARK DESIGNER HOMES PTY LTD 377. Hon ALANNA CLOHESY to the Minister for Commerce: I refer to the many consumer complaints to the Building Commission in relation to Benchmark Designer Homes. Now that the company has gone into administration, what is the government doing to — (a) identify other Western Australian families that may have experienced shoddy service from this company; and (b) provide information to all victims about their rights under administration, how to claim under home indemnity insurance and other rights? Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (a)–(b) The Building Commission is liaising with the company’s administrator and home indemnity insurers to ensure that all interested parties are aware of the situation with Benchmark and the appropriate processes that need to be followed. The Building Commission also has information on its website about how to claim on home indemnity insurance, and is providing this information to people who phone or email. The Building Commission has received complaints about Benchmark and these are being progressed. Hon Kate Doust : Yes, they are now. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : I hear the interjection from Hon Kate Doust, and it is unfortunate that it seems that Benchmark Designer Homes’ decision to go into administration was precipitated by intemperate media exposure. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Kate Doust recalls, she did approach me several weeks ago about her concerns on behalf of some of her constituents regarding Benchmark, and I invited her to inform me of those concerns in writing. Hon Kate Doust : I did; I have written to you and I am waiting for a response. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes; it was the day before she went out to the media and exposed Benchmark’s financial issues. As I say, it appears that its decision to go into administration was precipitated or at least has been used as a pretext in order to go into administration. Now, the consequences of that are several-fold. For a start, it now becomes an insurance claim; secondly — Hon Kate Doust interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes, they have been doing their job, and they have been monitoring it and encouraging Benchmark to complete its contracts. What has now happened — Hon Alanna Clohesy interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Alanna Clohesy is prepared to listen, she might learn something. But what has now happened is that that company does not complete its contracts, its contractors go unpaid, and it becomes a claim on behalf of the home owner who has commissioned it to do the job to obtain alternative builders, and it becomes an insurance claim. It may very well be, now that the state has responsibility for underwriting home indemnity insurance, that it is the taxpayer who has to pick up the tab, thanks to the decision to go public. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
I refer to the many consumer complaints to the Building Commission in relation to Benchmark Designer Homes. Now that the company has gone into administration, what is the government doing to — (a) identify other Western Australian families that may have experienced shoddy service from this company; and (b) provide information to all victims about their rights under administration, how to claim under home indemnity insurance and other rights? Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (a)–(b) The Building Commission is liaising with the company’s administrator and home indemnity insurers to ensure that all interested parties are aware of the situation with Benchmark and the appropriate processes that need to be followed. The Building Commission also has information on its website about how to claim on home indemnity insurance, and is providing this information to people who phone or email. The Building Commission has received complaints about Benchmark and these are being progressed. Hon Kate Doust : Yes, they are now. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : I hear the interjection from Hon Kate Doust, and it is unfortunate that it seems that Benchmark Designer Homes’ decision to go into administration was precipitated by intemperate media exposure. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Kate Doust recalls, she did approach me several weeks ago about her concerns on behalf of some of her constituents regarding Benchmark, and I invited her to inform me of those concerns in writing. Hon Kate Doust : I did; I have written to you and I am waiting for a response. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes; it was the day before she went out to the media and exposed Benchmark’s financial issues. As I say, it appears that its decision to go into administration was precipitated or at least has been used as a pretext in order to go into administration. Now, the consequences of that are several-fold. For a start, it now becomes an insurance claim; secondly — Hon Kate Doust interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes, they have been doing their job, and they have been monitoring it and encouraging Benchmark to complete its contracts. What has now happened — Hon Alanna Clohesy interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Alanna Clohesy is prepared to listen, she might learn something. But what has now happened is that that company does not complete its contracts, its contractors go unpaid, and it becomes a claim on behalf of the home owner who has commissioned it to do the job to obtain alternative builders, and it becomes an insurance claim. It may very well be, now that the state has responsibility for underwriting home indemnity insurance, that it is the taxpayer who has to pick up the tab, thanks to the decision to go public. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
(b) provide information to all victims about their rights under administration, how to claim under home indemnity insurance and other rights?
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (a)–(b) The Building Commission is liaising with the company’s administrator and home indemnity insurers to ensure that all interested parties are aware of the situation with Benchmark and the appropriate processes that need to be followed. The Building Commission also has information on its website about how to claim on home indemnity insurance, and is providing this information to people who phone or email. The Building Commission has received complaints about Benchmark and these are being progressed. Hon Kate Doust : Yes, they are now. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : I hear the interjection from Hon Kate Doust, and it is unfortunate that it seems that Benchmark Designer Homes’ decision to go into administration was precipitated by intemperate media exposure. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Kate Doust recalls, she did approach me several weeks ago about her concerns on behalf of some of her constituents regarding Benchmark, and I invited her to inform me of those concerns in writing. Hon Kate Doust : I did; I have written to you and I am waiting for a response. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes; it was the day before she went out to the media and exposed Benchmark’s financial issues. As I say, it appears that its decision to go into administration was precipitated or at least has been used as a pretext in order to go into administration. Now, the consequences of that are several-fold. For a start, it now becomes an insurance claim; secondly — Hon Kate Doust interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes, they have been doing their job, and they have been monitoring it and encouraging Benchmark to complete its contracts. What has now happened — Hon Alanna Clohesy interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Alanna Clohesy is prepared to listen, she might learn something. But what has now happened is that that company does not complete its contracts, its contractors go unpaid, and it becomes a claim on behalf of the home owner who has commissioned it to do the job to obtain alternative builders, and it becomes an insurance claim. It may very well be, now that the state has responsibility for underwriting home indemnity insurance, that it is the taxpayer who has to pick up the tab, thanks to the decision to go public. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
(a)–(b) The Building Commission is liaising with the company’s administrator and home indemnity insurers to ensure that all interested parties are aware of the situation with Benchmark and the appropriate processes that need to be followed. The Building Commission also has information on its website about how to claim on home indemnity insurance, and is providing this information to people who phone or email. The Building Commission has received complaints about Benchmark and these are being progressed. Hon Kate Doust : Yes, they are now. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : I hear the interjection from Hon Kate Doust, and it is unfortunate that it seems that Benchmark Designer Homes’ decision to go into administration was precipitated by intemperate media exposure. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Kate Doust recalls, she did approach me several weeks ago about her concerns on behalf of some of her constituents regarding Benchmark, and I invited her to inform me of those concerns in writing. Hon Kate Doust : I did; I have written to you and I am waiting for a response. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes; it was the day before she went out to the media and exposed Benchmark’s financial issues. As I say, it appears that its decision to go into administration was precipitated or at least has been used as a pretext in order to go into administration. Now, the consequences of that are several-fold. For a start, it now becomes an insurance claim; secondly — Hon Kate Doust interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes, they have been doing their job, and they have been monitoring it and encouraging Benchmark to complete its contracts. What has now happened — Hon Alanna Clohesy interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Alanna Clohesy is prepared to listen, she might learn something. But what has now happened is that that company does not complete its contracts, its contractors go unpaid, and it becomes a claim on behalf of the home owner who has commissioned it to do the job to obtain alternative builders, and it becomes an insurance claim. It may very well be, now that the state has responsibility for underwriting home indemnity insurance, that it is the taxpayer who has to pick up the tab, thanks to the decision to go public. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
Hon Kate Doust : Yes, they are now. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : I hear the interjection from Hon Kate Doust, and it is unfortunate that it seems that Benchmark Designer Homes’ decision to go into administration was precipitated by intemperate media exposure. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Kate Doust recalls, she did approach me several weeks ago about her concerns on behalf of some of her constituents regarding Benchmark, and I invited her to inform me of those concerns in writing. Hon Kate Doust : I did; I have written to you and I am waiting for a response. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes; it was the day before she went out to the media and exposed Benchmark’s financial issues. As I say, it appears that its decision to go into administration was precipitated or at least has been used as a pretext in order to go into administration. Now, the consequences of that are several-fold. For a start, it now becomes an insurance claim; secondly — Hon Kate Doust interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes, they have been doing their job, and they have been monitoring it and encouraging Benchmark to complete its contracts. What has now happened — Hon Alanna Clohesy interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Alanna Clohesy is prepared to listen, she might learn something. But what has now happened is that that company does not complete its contracts, its contractors go unpaid, and it becomes a claim on behalf of the home owner who has commissioned it to do the job to obtain alternative builders, and it becomes an insurance claim. It may very well be, now that the state has responsibility for underwriting home indemnity insurance, that it is the taxpayer who has to pick up the tab, thanks to the decision to go public. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : I hear the interjection from Hon Kate Doust, and it is unfortunate that it seems that Benchmark Designer Homes’ decision to go into administration was precipitated by intemperate media exposure. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Kate Doust recalls, she did approach me several weeks ago about her concerns on behalf of some of her constituents regarding Benchmark, and I invited her to inform me of those concerns in writing. Hon Kate Doust : I did; I have written to you and I am waiting for a response. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes; it was the day before she went out to the media and exposed Benchmark’s financial issues. As I say, it appears that its decision to go into administration was precipitated or at least has been used as a pretext in order to go into administration. Now, the consequences of that are several-fold. For a start, it now becomes an insurance claim; secondly — Hon Kate Doust interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes, they have been doing their job, and they have been monitoring it and encouraging Benchmark to complete its contracts. What has now happened — Hon Alanna Clohesy interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Alanna Clohesy is prepared to listen, she might learn something. But what has now happened is that that company does not complete its contracts, its contractors go unpaid, and it becomes a claim on behalf of the home owner who has commissioned it to do the job to obtain alternative builders, and it becomes an insurance claim. It may very well be, now that the state has responsibility for underwriting home indemnity insurance, that it is the taxpayer who has to pick up the tab, thanks to the decision to go public. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Kate Doust recalls, she did approach me several weeks ago about her concerns on behalf of some of her constituents regarding Benchmark, and I invited her to inform me of those concerns in writing. Hon Kate Doust : I did; I have written to you and I am waiting for a response. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes; it was the day before she went out to the media and exposed Benchmark’s financial issues. As I say, it appears that its decision to go into administration was precipitated or at least has been used as a pretext in order to go into administration. Now, the consequences of that are several-fold. For a start, it now becomes an insurance claim; secondly — Hon Kate Doust interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes, they have been doing their job, and they have been monitoring it and encouraging Benchmark to complete its contracts. What has now happened — Hon Alanna Clohesy interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Alanna Clohesy is prepared to listen, she might learn something. But what has now happened is that that company does not complete its contracts, its contractors go unpaid, and it becomes a claim on behalf of the home owner who has commissioned it to do the job to obtain alternative builders, and it becomes an insurance claim. It may very well be, now that the state has responsibility for underwriting home indemnity insurance, that it is the taxpayer who has to pick up the tab, thanks to the decision to go public. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Kate Doust recalls, she did approach me several weeks ago about her concerns on behalf of some of her constituents regarding Benchmark, and I invited her to inform me of those concerns in writing. Hon Kate Doust : I did; I have written to you and I am waiting for a response. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes; it was the day before she went out to the media and exposed Benchmark’s financial issues. As I say, it appears that its decision to go into administration was precipitated or at least has been used as a pretext in order to go into administration. Now, the consequences of that are several-fold. For a start, it now becomes an insurance claim; secondly — Hon Kate Doust interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes, they have been doing their job, and they have been monitoring it and encouraging Benchmark to complete its contracts. What has now happened — Hon Alanna Clohesy interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Alanna Clohesy is prepared to listen, she might learn something. But what has now happened is that that company does not complete its contracts, its contractors go unpaid, and it becomes a claim on behalf of the home owner who has commissioned it to do the job to obtain alternative builders, and it becomes an insurance claim. It may very well be, now that the state has responsibility for underwriting home indemnity insurance, that it is the taxpayer who has to pick up the tab, thanks to the decision to go public. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Kate Doust recalls, she did approach me several weeks ago about her concerns on behalf of some of her constituents regarding Benchmark, and I invited her to inform me of those concerns in writing. Hon Kate Doust : I did; I have written to you and I am waiting for a response. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes; it was the day before she went out to the media and exposed Benchmark’s financial issues. As I say, it appears that its decision to go into administration was precipitated or at least has been used as a pretext in order to go into administration. Now, the consequences of that are several-fold. For a start, it now becomes an insurance claim; secondly — Hon Kate Doust interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes, they have been doing their job, and they have been monitoring it and encouraging Benchmark to complete its contracts. What has now happened — Hon Alanna Clohesy interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Alanna Clohesy is prepared to listen, she might learn something. But what has now happened is that that company does not complete its contracts, its contractors go unpaid, and it becomes a claim on behalf of the home owner who has commissioned it to do the job to obtain alternative builders, and it becomes an insurance claim. It may very well be, now that the state has responsibility for underwriting home indemnity insurance, that it is the taxpayer who has to pick up the tab, thanks to the decision to go public. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
Hon Kate Doust : I did; I have written to you and I am waiting for a response. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes; it was the day before she went out to the media and exposed Benchmark’s financial issues. As I say, it appears that its decision to go into administration was precipitated or at least has been used as a pretext in order to go into administration. Now, the consequences of that are several-fold. For a start, it now becomes an insurance claim; secondly — Hon Kate Doust interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes, they have been doing their job, and they have been monitoring it and encouraging Benchmark to complete its contracts. What has now happened — Hon Alanna Clohesy interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Alanna Clohesy is prepared to listen, she might learn something. But what has now happened is that that company does not complete its contracts, its contractors go unpaid, and it becomes a claim on behalf of the home owner who has commissioned it to do the job to obtain alternative builders, and it becomes an insurance claim. It may very well be, now that the state has responsibility for underwriting home indemnity insurance, that it is the taxpayer who has to pick up the tab, thanks to the decision to go public. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes; it was the day before she went out to the media and exposed Benchmark’s financial issues. As I say, it appears that its decision to go into administration was precipitated or at least has been used as a pretext in order to go into administration. Now, the consequences of that are several-fold. For a start, it now becomes an insurance claim; secondly — Hon Kate Doust interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes, they have been doing their job, and they have been monitoring it and encouraging Benchmark to complete its contracts. What has now happened — Hon Alanna Clohesy interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Alanna Clohesy is prepared to listen, she might learn something. But what has now happened is that that company does not complete its contracts, its contractors go unpaid, and it becomes a claim on behalf of the home owner who has commissioned it to do the job to obtain alternative builders, and it becomes an insurance claim. It may very well be, now that the state has responsibility for underwriting home indemnity insurance, that it is the taxpayer who has to pick up the tab, thanks to the decision to go public. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
Hon Kate Doust interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes, they have been doing their job, and they have been monitoring it and encouraging Benchmark to complete its contracts. What has now happened — Hon Alanna Clohesy interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Alanna Clohesy is prepared to listen, she might learn something. But what has now happened is that that company does not complete its contracts, its contractors go unpaid, and it becomes a claim on behalf of the home owner who has commissioned it to do the job to obtain alternative builders, and it becomes an insurance claim. It may very well be, now that the state has responsibility for underwriting home indemnity insurance, that it is the taxpayer who has to pick up the tab, thanks to the decision to go public. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes, they have been doing their job, and they have been monitoring it and encouraging Benchmark to complete its contracts. What has now happened — Hon Alanna Clohesy interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Alanna Clohesy is prepared to listen, she might learn something. But what has now happened is that that company does not complete its contracts, its contractors go unpaid, and it becomes a claim on behalf of the home owner who has commissioned it to do the job to obtain alternative builders, and it becomes an insurance claim. It may very well be, now that the state has responsibility for underwriting home indemnity insurance, that it is the taxpayer who has to pick up the tab, thanks to the decision to go public. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
Hon Alanna Clohesy interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Alanna Clohesy is prepared to listen, she might learn something. But what has now happened is that that company does not complete its contracts, its contractors go unpaid, and it becomes a claim on behalf of the home owner who has commissioned it to do the job to obtain alternative builders, and it becomes an insurance claim. It may very well be, now that the state has responsibility for underwriting home indemnity insurance, that it is the taxpayer who has to pick up the tab, thanks to the decision to go public. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Alanna Clohesy is prepared to listen, she might learn something. But what has now happened is that that company does not complete its contracts, its contractors go unpaid, and it becomes a claim on behalf of the home owner who has commissioned it to do the job to obtain alternative builders, and it becomes an insurance claim. It may very well be, now that the state has responsibility for underwriting home indemnity insurance, that it is the taxpayer who has to pick up the tab, thanks to the decision to go public. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
But what has now happened is that that company does not complete its contracts, its contractors go unpaid, and it becomes a claim on behalf of the home owner who has commissioned it to do the job to obtain alternative builders, and it becomes an insurance claim. It may very well be, now that the state has responsibility for underwriting home indemnity insurance, that it is the taxpayer who has to pick up the tab, thanks to the decision to go public. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
I refer to the many consumer complaints to the Building Commission in relation to Benchmark Designer Homes. Now that the company has gone into administration, what is the government doing to — (a) identify other Western Australian families that may have experienced shoddy service from this company; and (b) provide information to all victims about their rights under administration, how to claim under home indemnity insurance and other rights? Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (a)–(b) The Building Commission is liaising with the company’s administrator and home indemnity insurers to ensure that all interested parties are aware of the situation with Benchmark and the appropriate processes that need to be followed. The Building Commission also has information on its website about how to claim on home indemnity insurance, and is providing this information to people who phone or email. The Building Commission has received complaints about Benchmark and these are being progressed. Hon Kate Doust : Yes, they are now. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : I hear the interjection from Hon Kate Doust, and it is unfortunate that it seems that Benchmark Designer Homes’ decision to go into administration was precipitated by intemperate media exposure. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Kate Doust recalls, she did approach me several weeks ago about her concerns on behalf of some of her constituents regarding Benchmark, and I invited her to inform me of those concerns in writing. Hon Kate Doust : I did; I have written to you and I am waiting for a response. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes; it was the day before she went out to the media and exposed Benchmark’s financial issues. As I say, it appears that its decision to go into administration was precipitated or at least has been used as a pretext in order to go into administration. Now, the consequences of that are several-fold. For a start, it now becomes an insurance claim; secondly — Hon Kate Doust interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes, they have been doing their job, and they have been monitoring it and encouraging Benchmark to complete its contracts. What has now happened — Hon Alanna Clohesy interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Alanna Clohesy is prepared to listen, she might learn something. But what has now happened is that that company does not complete its contracts, its contractors go unpaid, and it becomes a claim on behalf of the home owner who has commissioned it to do the job to obtain alternative builders, and it becomes an insurance claim. It may very well be, now that the state has responsibility for underwriting home indemnity insurance, that it is the taxpayer who has to pick up the tab, thanks to the decision to go public. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
(b) provide information to all victims about their rights under administration, how to claim under home indemnity insurance and other rights?
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (a)–(b) The Building Commission is liaising with the company’s administrator and home indemnity insurers to ensure that all interested parties are aware of the situation with Benchmark and the appropriate processes that need to be followed. The Building Commission also has information on its website about how to claim on home indemnity insurance, and is providing this information to people who phone or email. The Building Commission has received complaints about Benchmark and these are being progressed. Hon Kate Doust : Yes, they are now. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : I hear the interjection from Hon Kate Doust, and it is unfortunate that it seems that Benchmark Designer Homes’ decision to go into administration was precipitated by intemperate media exposure. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Kate Doust recalls, she did approach me several weeks ago about her concerns on behalf of some of her constituents regarding Benchmark, and I invited her to inform me of those concerns in writing. Hon Kate Doust : I did; I have written to you and I am waiting for a response. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes; it was the day before she went out to the media and exposed Benchmark’s financial issues. As I say, it appears that its decision to go into administration was precipitated or at least has been used as a pretext in order to go into administration. Now, the consequences of that are several-fold. For a start, it now becomes an insurance claim; secondly — Hon Kate Doust interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes, they have been doing their job, and they have been monitoring it and encouraging Benchmark to complete its contracts. What has now happened — Hon Alanna Clohesy interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Alanna Clohesy is prepared to listen, she might learn something. But what has now happened is that that company does not complete its contracts, its contractors go unpaid, and it becomes a claim on behalf of the home owner who has commissioned it to do the job to obtain alternative builders, and it becomes an insurance claim. It may very well be, now that the state has responsibility for underwriting home indemnity insurance, that it is the taxpayer who has to pick up the tab, thanks to the decision to go public. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
(a)–(b) The Building Commission is liaising with the company’s administrator and home indemnity insurers to ensure that all interested parties are aware of the situation with Benchmark and the appropriate processes that need to be followed. The Building Commission also has information on its website about how to claim on home indemnity insurance, and is providing this information to people who phone or email. The Building Commission has received complaints about Benchmark and these are being progressed. Hon Kate Doust : Yes, they are now. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : I hear the interjection from Hon Kate Doust, and it is unfortunate that it seems that Benchmark Designer Homes’ decision to go into administration was precipitated by intemperate media exposure. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Kate Doust recalls, she did approach me several weeks ago about her concerns on behalf of some of her constituents regarding Benchmark, and I invited her to inform me of those concerns in writing. Hon Kate Doust : I did; I have written to you and I am waiting for a response. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes; it was the day before she went out to the media and exposed Benchmark’s financial issues. As I say, it appears that its decision to go into administration was precipitated or at least has been used as a pretext in order to go into administration. Now, the consequences of that are several-fold. For a start, it now becomes an insurance claim; secondly — Hon Kate Doust interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes, they have been doing their job, and they have been monitoring it and encouraging Benchmark to complete its contracts. What has now happened — Hon Alanna Clohesy interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Alanna Clohesy is prepared to listen, she might learn something. But what has now happened is that that company does not complete its contracts, its contractors go unpaid, and it becomes a claim on behalf of the home owner who has commissioned it to do the job to obtain alternative builders, and it becomes an insurance claim. It may very well be, now that the state has responsibility for underwriting home indemnity insurance, that it is the taxpayer who has to pick up the tab, thanks to the decision to go public. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
Hon Kate Doust : Yes, they are now. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : I hear the interjection from Hon Kate Doust, and it is unfortunate that it seems that Benchmark Designer Homes’ decision to go into administration was precipitated by intemperate media exposure. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Kate Doust recalls, she did approach me several weeks ago about her concerns on behalf of some of her constituents regarding Benchmark, and I invited her to inform me of those concerns in writing. Hon Kate Doust : I did; I have written to you and I am waiting for a response. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes; it was the day before she went out to the media and exposed Benchmark’s financial issues. As I say, it appears that its decision to go into administration was precipitated or at least has been used as a pretext in order to go into administration. Now, the consequences of that are several-fold. For a start, it now becomes an insurance claim; secondly — Hon Kate Doust interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes, they have been doing their job, and they have been monitoring it and encouraging Benchmark to complete its contracts. What has now happened — Hon Alanna Clohesy interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Alanna Clohesy is prepared to listen, she might learn something. But what has now happened is that that company does not complete its contracts, its contractors go unpaid, and it becomes a claim on behalf of the home owner who has commissioned it to do the job to obtain alternative builders, and it becomes an insurance claim. It may very well be, now that the state has responsibility for underwriting home indemnity insurance, that it is the taxpayer who has to pick up the tab, thanks to the decision to go public. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : I hear the interjection from Hon Kate Doust, and it is unfortunate that it seems that Benchmark Designer Homes’ decision to go into administration was precipitated by intemperate media exposure. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Kate Doust recalls, she did approach me several weeks ago about her concerns on behalf of some of her constituents regarding Benchmark, and I invited her to inform me of those concerns in writing. Hon Kate Doust : I did; I have written to you and I am waiting for a response. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes; it was the day before she went out to the media and exposed Benchmark’s financial issues. As I say, it appears that its decision to go into administration was precipitated or at least has been used as a pretext in order to go into administration. Now, the consequences of that are several-fold. For a start, it now becomes an insurance claim; secondly — Hon Kate Doust interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes, they have been doing their job, and they have been monitoring it and encouraging Benchmark to complete its contracts. What has now happened — Hon Alanna Clohesy interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Alanna Clohesy is prepared to listen, she might learn something. But what has now happened is that that company does not complete its contracts, its contractors go unpaid, and it becomes a claim on behalf of the home owner who has commissioned it to do the job to obtain alternative builders, and it becomes an insurance claim. It may very well be, now that the state has responsibility for underwriting home indemnity insurance, that it is the taxpayer who has to pick up the tab, thanks to the decision to go public. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Kate Doust recalls, she did approach me several weeks ago about her concerns on behalf of some of her constituents regarding Benchmark, and I invited her to inform me of those concerns in writing. Hon Kate Doust : I did; I have written to you and I am waiting for a response. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes; it was the day before she went out to the media and exposed Benchmark’s financial issues. As I say, it appears that its decision to go into administration was precipitated or at least has been used as a pretext in order to go into administration. Now, the consequences of that are several-fold. For a start, it now becomes an insurance claim; secondly — Hon Kate Doust interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes, they have been doing their job, and they have been monitoring it and encouraging Benchmark to complete its contracts. What has now happened — Hon Alanna Clohesy interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Alanna Clohesy is prepared to listen, she might learn something. But what has now happened is that that company does not complete its contracts, its contractors go unpaid, and it becomes a claim on behalf of the home owner who has commissioned it to do the job to obtain alternative builders, and it becomes an insurance claim. It may very well be, now that the state has responsibility for underwriting home indemnity insurance, that it is the taxpayer who has to pick up the tab, thanks to the decision to go public. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Kate Doust recalls, she did approach me several weeks ago about her concerns on behalf of some of her constituents regarding Benchmark, and I invited her to inform me of those concerns in writing. Hon Kate Doust : I did; I have written to you and I am waiting for a response. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes; it was the day before she went out to the media and exposed Benchmark’s financial issues. As I say, it appears that its decision to go into administration was precipitated or at least has been used as a pretext in order to go into administration. Now, the consequences of that are several-fold. For a start, it now becomes an insurance claim; secondly — Hon Kate Doust interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes, they have been doing their job, and they have been monitoring it and encouraging Benchmark to complete its contracts. What has now happened — Hon Alanna Clohesy interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Alanna Clohesy is prepared to listen, she might learn something. But what has now happened is that that company does not complete its contracts, its contractors go unpaid, and it becomes a claim on behalf of the home owner who has commissioned it to do the job to obtain alternative builders, and it becomes an insurance claim. It may very well be, now that the state has responsibility for underwriting home indemnity insurance, that it is the taxpayer who has to pick up the tab, thanks to the decision to go public. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Kate Doust recalls, she did approach me several weeks ago about her concerns on behalf of some of her constituents regarding Benchmark, and I invited her to inform me of those concerns in writing. Hon Kate Doust : I did; I have written to you and I am waiting for a response. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes; it was the day before she went out to the media and exposed Benchmark’s financial issues. As I say, it appears that its decision to go into administration was precipitated or at least has been used as a pretext in order to go into administration. Now, the consequences of that are several-fold. For a start, it now becomes an insurance claim; secondly — Hon Kate Doust interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes, they have been doing their job, and they have been monitoring it and encouraging Benchmark to complete its contracts. What has now happened — Hon Alanna Clohesy interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Alanna Clohesy is prepared to listen, she might learn something. But what has now happened is that that company does not complete its contracts, its contractors go unpaid, and it becomes a claim on behalf of the home owner who has commissioned it to do the job to obtain alternative builders, and it becomes an insurance claim. It may very well be, now that the state has responsibility for underwriting home indemnity insurance, that it is the taxpayer who has to pick up the tab, thanks to the decision to go public. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
Hon Kate Doust : I did; I have written to you and I am waiting for a response. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes; it was the day before she went out to the media and exposed Benchmark’s financial issues. As I say, it appears that its decision to go into administration was precipitated or at least has been used as a pretext in order to go into administration. Now, the consequences of that are several-fold. For a start, it now becomes an insurance claim; secondly — Hon Kate Doust interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes, they have been doing their job, and they have been monitoring it and encouraging Benchmark to complete its contracts. What has now happened — Hon Alanna Clohesy interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Alanna Clohesy is prepared to listen, she might learn something. But what has now happened is that that company does not complete its contracts, its contractors go unpaid, and it becomes a claim on behalf of the home owner who has commissioned it to do the job to obtain alternative builders, and it becomes an insurance claim. It may very well be, now that the state has responsibility for underwriting home indemnity insurance, that it is the taxpayer who has to pick up the tab, thanks to the decision to go public. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes; it was the day before she went out to the media and exposed Benchmark’s financial issues. As I say, it appears that its decision to go into administration was precipitated or at least has been used as a pretext in order to go into administration. Now, the consequences of that are several-fold. For a start, it now becomes an insurance claim; secondly — Hon Kate Doust interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes, they have been doing their job, and they have been monitoring it and encouraging Benchmark to complete its contracts. What has now happened — Hon Alanna Clohesy interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Alanna Clohesy is prepared to listen, she might learn something. But what has now happened is that that company does not complete its contracts, its contractors go unpaid, and it becomes a claim on behalf of the home owner who has commissioned it to do the job to obtain alternative builders, and it becomes an insurance claim. It may very well be, now that the state has responsibility for underwriting home indemnity insurance, that it is the taxpayer who has to pick up the tab, thanks to the decision to go public. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
Hon Kate Doust interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes, they have been doing their job, and they have been monitoring it and encouraging Benchmark to complete its contracts. What has now happened — Hon Alanna Clohesy interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Alanna Clohesy is prepared to listen, she might learn something. But what has now happened is that that company does not complete its contracts, its contractors go unpaid, and it becomes a claim on behalf of the home owner who has commissioned it to do the job to obtain alternative builders, and it becomes an insurance claim. It may very well be, now that the state has responsibility for underwriting home indemnity insurance, that it is the taxpayer who has to pick up the tab, thanks to the decision to go public. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Yes, they have been doing their job, and they have been monitoring it and encouraging Benchmark to complete its contracts. What has now happened — Hon Alanna Clohesy interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Alanna Clohesy is prepared to listen, she might learn something. But what has now happened is that that company does not complete its contracts, its contractors go unpaid, and it becomes a claim on behalf of the home owner who has commissioned it to do the job to obtain alternative builders, and it becomes an insurance claim. It may very well be, now that the state has responsibility for underwriting home indemnity insurance, that it is the taxpayer who has to pick up the tab, thanks to the decision to go public. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
Hon Alanna Clohesy interjected. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Alanna Clohesy is prepared to listen, she might learn something. But what has now happened is that that company does not complete its contracts, its contractors go unpaid, and it becomes a claim on behalf of the home owner who has commissioned it to do the job to obtain alternative builders, and it becomes an insurance claim. It may very well be, now that the state has responsibility for underwriting home indemnity insurance, that it is the taxpayer who has to pick up the tab, thanks to the decision to go public. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : If Hon Alanna Clohesy is prepared to listen, she might learn something. But what has now happened is that that company does not complete its contracts, its contractors go unpaid, and it becomes a claim on behalf of the home owner who has commissioned it to do the job to obtain alternative builders, and it becomes an insurance claim. It may very well be, now that the state has responsibility for underwriting home indemnity insurance, that it is the taxpayer who has to pick up the tab, thanks to the decision to go public. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
But what has now happened is that that company does not complete its contracts, its contractors go unpaid, and it becomes a claim on behalf of the home owner who has commissioned it to do the job to obtain alternative builders, and it becomes an insurance claim. It may very well be, now that the state has responsibility for underwriting home indemnity insurance, that it is the taxpayer who has to pick up the tab, thanks to the decision to go public. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Unfortunately, the option of getting it to complete its contracts — Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
Hon Kate Doust : They were never going to do it, and you know it. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Kate Doust cannot answer her own question. She has asked a question and she is obliged to listen to the answer, whether she likes it, agree with it — Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
Hon Kate Doust : It’s not my question. The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
The PRESIDENT : Okay; it was from your side of the chamber. Sorry. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : The Building Commission receives complaints, addresses disciplinary matters and tries to resolve those complaints between the builder concerned and its client. That process was in place. Some of the complaints had been considered and addressed; some complaints had been dismissed over time; and there were other complaints that were being considered. But that option has now been closed off, and it appears that now it becomes an insurance matter rather than a dispute resolution matter. These people who have awaited the completion of their home or have had to have complaints addressed are now dealing with a case of having to make an insurance claim and to find alternative builders to complete the job, and the other consequences I have mentioned flow from that.
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