Labor will this week ask the Tasmanian Parliament to establish greater protections for the building industry and homeowners after a rash of needlessly unresolved housing construction issues.
Shadow Building and Construction Minister Jen Butler said it was beyond time for the Parliament to establish an inquiry to take a forensic look at the future of the building and construction industry in Tasmania and how both consumers and the industry can be offered better protection.
Ms Butler said the proposed inquiry would examine the adequacy of current legislation and regulation available to Consumer, Building and Occupational Services to investigate and compel builders to fix defective work.
"I urge the Liberals to get on board with this proposal for this important inquiry," Ms Butler said.
"Tasmania's building and construction industry is booming but from time to time people building new homes are badly let down by shonky builders and we want to see how we best protect the quality reputation that Tasmanian builders have.
"The building and construction industry cannot continue to be undermined by a few shonky builders whose practices frustrate and undermine the reputation of the whole industry.
"Consumers and homeowners are frustrated because they are repeatedly facing issues with problem builders and have very little recourse except taking expensive legal action.
"A lot of the time the consumers have already invested just about everything that they've got into their homes – the biggest asset they will ever own – and a lot of the time the legal action isn't in their favour and takes too long to be resolved.
"I'm regularly contacted about dodgy builders and Tasmanians who are being left hundreds of thousands of dollars out of pocket.
"It's time for a serious, genuine inquiry so we can better protect both consumers and the building industry."
Jen Butler MP
Shadow Building and Construction Minister
