Reforms coming into effect next year will enable the state's new, tougher industry watchdog to order builders back to fix serious defects after homeowners move in. Currently, the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) can only use this power before a new build is signed off and occupied.
BPC CEO and Commissioner Anna Cronin told a packed crowd at the inaugural BPC Industry Conference the regulator's new power was a 'game changer' for consumers and a strong incentive for builders to 'get it right the first time'.
Ms Cronin was joined by Minister for Housing and Building the Hon Harriet Shing MP, State Building Surveyor Steven Baxas and other key figures from across government and industry to discuss the reforms.
The BPC was launched on 1 July 2025 as a single entry point to the building system for consumers and industry – bringing regulation, insurance and dispute resolution under one roof for the first time.
Other new powers on the way include a developer bond scheme to cover non-compliant work in apartments four storeys and above, and expanded Domestic Building Insurance (DBI) for defects if a builder refuses to fix them. Under the current DBI scheme, consumers can only claim on defects if a builder has gone insolvent, died or disappeared.
Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) Chief Regulator Skye Bowie outlined how similar schemes in Queensland are not only good for consumers but boost productivity in the home building sector.
Returning to fix defects costs builders more in the long run – with every hour spent on remedial work impacting their capacity to work on other projects.
Builders were urged to ensure their paperwork was up to scratch before the changes come into effect, with late insurance payments one of the top reported offences to the QBCC.
The Department of Transport and Planning is leading the consultation process with industry and consumer stakeholders to finalise the regulations that will underpin how the BPC implements the reforms.
