Question

Number

594

Subject

Access Canberra
(building and planning compliance)

Asked by

Cain, Peter

Directed to

Minister for Planning and Sustainable Development

Question asked on

04 September 2025

Answer due on

05 October 2025

Question asked

Can Access Canberra suspend or refuse to investigate alleged builder or certifier misconduct while private litigation is underway.
Does the Government consider it appropriate that charging clauses in ACT building contracts allow builders to lodge caveats over residential properties with minimal evidentiary basis, forcing homeowners into costly litigation.
Will the Government consider reforms similar to those in New South Wales, where charging clauses in residential contracts are void.
Why are settlement deeds in the ACT permitted to include clauses requiring homeowners to waive statutory rights under building legislation and will the Government prohibit such clauses.
What enforcement action has Access Canberra taken against certifiers who approve defective or non-compliant work, particularly where expert reports identify significant defects.
Does the Government consider the current system of private certification to be adequate, or should government inspectors replace private certifiers.
What avenues of accountability are available to consumers when both Access Canberra and the ACT Ombudsman decline to act on complaints about building regulatory failures.
What reforms will the Government commit to in order to improve consumer protections in the residential building sector.

Parliamentary business