Mr WOOD - 2004-02-25
Last week, when I asked you a question regarding certificates of occupancy, you said there will be a meeting on 23 February, last Monday, with industry groups, which you would attend. Could you tell the House what were the results of that meeting and when consultation will occur with homeowners and businesses so they know what is going on as well and have input into this important issue.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. It is a very important issue and there has been quite a lot of misinformation about it. As I said in the House last week, my aim is to get the people who are involved - the technical people who are involved in the industry - around the table to talk through the issue because there is litigation and legal issues underneath.
On Monday, I was very pleased to attend the meeting at Cavenagh House with representatives from the Institute of Engineers, the Property Council, the Housing Industry of Australia, the Real Estate Institute of the Northern Territory, the Australian Institute of Building Surveyors, Territory Construction Association, Local Government Association of the NT, conveyancers and the Law Society. It was a very productive meeting. We talked through the issues. We identified the way forward here. Basically, the way forward is to look at some models for houses pre-1993, when the legislation changed, and possibly investigate the feasibility of having a certificate of classification for those buildings. That is what happens elsewhere in Australia.
Some other issues were identified in terms of insurance and lending institutions. I gave an undertaking to all the industry players who were there that nothing would change in terms of the issuing of certificates of occupancy until we had reached a draft policy on this that had general agreement around the table. And that is what will happen. Then it is very appropriate that we put that draft policy out for public comment because it does involve those who are buying and selling homes. I will give the undertaking to the member for Nelson, and to the public generally, that there will be full consultation on this. It is a difficult technical issue, but as minister I am absolutely committed to working through it.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. It is a very important issue and there has been quite a lot of misinformation about it. As I said in the House last week, my aim is to get the people who are involved - the technical people who are involved in the industry - around the table to talk through the issue because there is litigation and legal issues underneath.
On Monday, I was very pleased to attend the meeting at Cavenagh House with representatives from the Institute of Engineers, the Property Council, the Housing Industry of Australia, the Real Estate Institute of the Northern Territory, the Australian Institute of Building Surveyors, Territory Construction Association, Local Government Association of the NT, conveyancers and the Law Society. It was a very productive meeting. We talked through the issues. We identified the way forward here. Basically, the way forward is to look at some models for houses pre-1993, when the legislation changed, and possibly investigate the feasibility of having a certificate of classification for those buildings. That is what happens elsewhere in Australia.
Some other issues were identified in terms of insurance and lending institutions. I gave an undertaking to all the industry players who were there that nothing would change in terms of the issuing of certificates of occupancy until we had reached a draft policy on this that had general agreement around the table. And that is what will happen. Then it is very appropriate that we put that draft policy out for public comment because it does involve those who are buying and selling homes. I will give the undertaking to the member for Nelson, and to the public generally, that there will be full consultation on this. It is a difficult technical issue, but as minister I am absolutely committed to working through it.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016