Officers from Queensland’s building regulator will be out in force in October targeting active building sites around the State to help stamp out unlicensed, illegal and defective work.
Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) officers will be cracking down on unlicensed workers to ensure the construction industry is meeting its obligations around safety and building standards.
Where appropriate, the QBCC officers will provide advice to contractors and home owners if they have questions or concerns about building work.
QBCC Commissioner, Anissa Levy, says the blitz will kick off in southeast Queensland, before progressing to other locations across the State.
“Our action helps keep work sites free of risk and protects the people who will live, work and gather in the buildings under construction by ensuring they have been built by workers with the appropriate skills and qualifications,’’ Commissioner Levy says.
“They also give our officers an opportunity to connect with contractors on active sites to provide advice about the work being undertaken. We also use the opportunity to inform home owners about their rights and the role of the QBCC.
“The great news is that we know from previous compliance action that the majority of licensed contractors do the right thing, but we need to ensure this remains the case.”
Commissioner Levy says anyone caught breaking the law by working without a licence, outside of their scope, or by hiring unlicensed individuals, will be penalised.
“The QBCC has zero tolerance for unlicensed activity and there are significant penalties for anyone caught working without the appropriate licence,” she says.
“One of the reasons we take a tough stance on unlicensed activity is that it helps reduce defective building work, which could cost owners additional time and money to rectify.
“It also ensures there is a level playing field for our licensed contractors who are doing the right thing by obtaining qualifications and experience and providing the QBCC with evidence of their financial stability each year.”
28 September 2023
Commissioner Levy says home owners who choose licensed contractors have peace of mind knowing that they meet these important criteria.
“In addition to these safeguards, QBCC licensees also know that they are required to use contracts and take out insurance on work worth more than $3,300, which protects owners against incomplete or defective work.”
In the 2022-2023 financial year, the QBCC undertook 1404 site visits or inspections and launched investigations into 735 instances of unlicensed contracting and 204 instances of improper use of a licence.
