CFMEU Worried by Delay to ACT Property Developer Licensing

The CFMEU ACT has ramped up its demand for an urgent developer licensing scheme after the government confirmed a new delay in cracking down on dodgy operators. The ACT Government has announced the release of a discussion paper for formal community engagement through its Yoursay portal. The ACT Government committed to introducing a property developer licensing scheme in 2019 following a litany of development issues. In 2021, Sustainable Building and Construction Minister Rebecca Vassarotti said the government would announce a scheme in the second half of 2022. Despite the latest delay, the CFMEU intends to constructively engage with the consultation process to reiterate the importance of urgently introducing a licensing regime. A CFMEU-commissioned Redbridge survey last year found 77 per cent of Canberrans support licensing for property developers. "Every day dodgy developers operate in Canberra without licensing could be the day a catastrophe happens on a building site," CFMEU ACT Secretary Zach Smith said. "The community has already spoken. A huge majority of Canberrans back developer licensing. The time for talk is over. "We've had a working model on the table since November. It doesn't make any sense to have further delays when there's so much building going on around the ACT. "The cashed-up property developer lobby is doing everything in its power to stall and stop this. The CFMEU won't let them off the hook and the government shouldn't either. "The government must urgently introduce legislation to stop dodgy developers running roughshod over Canberrans." In November, the Union released a detailed framework outlining how the scheme should operate. Under the framework, licensing would be required for anyone to submit a planning application in the ACT or carry out works under an approved application. Developers would need to: * Pass a fit and proper person test * Have completed relevant training and have no history of phoenixing or contravening health and safety laws * Have no history of failing to complete rectification works