Mr WOOD - 2011-08-10
In June last year, a rural couple paid $11 273 to a company called Building Materials Australia and received a receipt for the amount. This represented the first 5% of a down payment on a house. On the same day, they paid $56 360 - which was 25% of the total cost - to Building Materials Australia and again received a signed receipt.
The building contract for the house showed that BMA was in partnership with a company called ACT Builders NT Pty Ltd. The man who signed the receipt claims he no longer works for BMA even though he has used their e-mail address, and the company director is nowhere to be found. In the meantime, the family has no house and no sign of their money.
What is Building Advisory Services doing about the breaches of the Building Act by this company? Have you investigated the complaint to see if the family can get its money back?
Madam SPEAKER: Minister for Lands and Planning, before I call you I remind honourable members that we do not usually use the names of individual people in this House because they have a limited right of reply. In responding, minister, I would ask you to bear that in mind, thank you.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. I have been advised of this complaint received against the building company. Building Advisory Services, as the member has said, is currently investigating that complaint, as per the process through the Department of Lands and Planning, to determine whether an offence has been committed under the Building Act. If evidence is uncovered that the builder has committed an offence under the act - possibility of guilt by professional misconduct - the matter will be referred to the Building Practitioner’s Board. This is as per process.
When I asked questions about this matter I was advised it is a complicated matter that involves a number of parties. The member for Nelson has outlined that. All I can offer the member today is Building Advisory Services is conducting a thorough investigation and, while that is taking place, I will update you. We look for an outcome in that. I am happy to keep you updated as we go along with this process, member for Nelson.
The building contract for the house showed that BMA was in partnership with a company called ACT Builders NT Pty Ltd. The man who signed the receipt claims he no longer works for BMA even though he has used their e-mail address, and the company director is nowhere to be found. In the meantime, the family has no house and no sign of their money.
What is Building Advisory Services doing about the breaches of the Building Act by this company? Have you investigated the complaint to see if the family can get its money back?
Madam SPEAKER: Minister for Lands and Planning, before I call you I remind honourable members that we do not usually use the names of individual people in this House because they have a limited right of reply. In responding, minister, I would ask you to bear that in mind, thank you.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. I have been advised of this complaint received against the building company. Building Advisory Services, as the member has said, is currently investigating that complaint, as per the process through the Department of Lands and Planning, to determine whether an offence has been committed under the Building Act. If evidence is uncovered that the builder has committed an offence under the act - possibility of guilt by professional misconduct - the matter will be referred to the Building Practitioner’s Board. This is as per process.
When I asked questions about this matter I was advised it is a complicated matter that involves a number of parties. The member for Nelson has outlined that. All I can offer the member today is Building Advisory Services is conducting a thorough investigation and, while that is taking place, I will update you. We look for an outcome in that. I am happy to keep you updated as we go along with this process, member for Nelson.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016