Queensland building watchdog to undergo reform
THE state's building regulator will undergo major reform in an attempt to curb complaints over how the watchdog operates.
Queensland Premier Campbell Newman announced on Wednesday a separate unit established within the Public Works Department would assess complaints made to the Building Services Authority so the regulatory body, the construction industry's watchdog, was not investigating itself.
A panel has also been established to look at what can be done to reform the BSA.
Mr Newman told 4BC Radio today he had received many complaints about the organisation.
Following a parliamentary committee reviewing the BSA last year, Housing and Public Works Minister Tim Mander said the newly-appointed panel would "make sure a reformed BSA strikes the right balance between the interests of industry and consumers".
"The BSA has an extremely broad charter covering everything from licensing of contractors to handling disputes so it's extremely important that it operates effectively," Mr Mander said.
Mr Mander said complaints were currently addressed internally by the BSA.
"It's never ideal to have Caesar judging Caesar," Mr Mander said.
A report the parliamentary committee compiled regarding the BSA recommended the entire organisation be disbanded and replaced.
At the time, the Master Builders Association submitted the BSA needed to be tightly focused on its operations and not competing in the marketplace.
