Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG ( Macquarie Fields—Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, Minister for Building, and Minister for Corrections) (16:21): I move:
That the Legislative Council amendments be agreed to.
The Government will not oppose concurrence with these amendments. While I was disappointed that the political games in the other place prevented the Building (Approvals and Practitioners) Bill 2026 from being passed six weeks ago, I am incredibly proud to have shepherded the bill through its final stage. The Building (Approvals and Practitioners) Bill 2026 delivers one of the most significant reforms to the New South Wales building regulatory framework in a generation. It establishes a modern system for the approval and oversight of building work, sets the framework for a nation-leading approach to the treatment of modern methods of construction and provides an uplift in the accountability of key building practitioners.
The bill strengths essential protections for consumers and supports the delivery of safer, higher quality buildings across our State. For too long, we have grappled with the consequences of a fragmented building approvals system and gaps in accountability. The impacts on cost and confidence for families and industry have been profound. Through this bill, the system that was a drag on housing completions will now smooth the path toward delivering the housing our State needs without compromising on building quality. Central to these reforms is a modernised and efficient approvals framework that reduces duplication, cuts unnecessary administrative burdens and provides a simpler pathway for the approval of new homes. By streamlining processes and clarifying responsibilities, the bill will help deliver greater certainty while maintaining strong regulatory oversight.
The legislation also introduces practical flexibility to support the delivery of projects. Approval authorities will be able to exercise discretion in appropriate circumstances to approve variations without unnecessarily delaying construction. Importantly, this flexibility is balanced by stronger integrity measures, including delivery on the Government's commitment to hold certifiers accountable by creating clearer conflict-of-interest provisions and tougher penalties for serious misconduct, ensuring that public confidence in the system is maintained. The bill also positions New South Wales at the forefront of innovation in residential construction. Through a nation‑leading regulatory framework for prefabricated homes, it provides consumers with confidence that modern methods of construction will meet the same high standards expected of traditional housing, while extending important consumer protections to those purchasing prefabricated homes.
The reforms are particularly important as the Minns Labor Government invests in scaling up modern methods of construction across New South Wales. The Government's recently announced Modern Methods of Construction Industry Expansion Program will help unlock the potential of prefabrication, modular construction and digital technologies to deliver more high-quality homes faster. By formally recognising prefabricated buildings in law and integrating them into the approvals system for the first time, the bill provides the regulatory foundation needed to support industry investment, drive productivity and accelerate housing delivery. At its heart, the legislation modernises a building certification system that has become increasingly complex over decades of piecemeal reform. By harnessing digital solutions, simplifying processes and strengthening accountability, the bill brings the building approvals framework into the twenty-first century and supports the faster delivery of safe, high‑quality homes for the people of New South Wales.
Finally, I acknowledge the hard work of the team at Building Commission [BC] NSW, who worked tirelessly on this bill. I also thank my team for their hard work, including my director of policy, Alicia Sylvester, and particularly my policy adviser, Mr Jonathan Stanbury, who did an outstanding job on leading the development and passage of this bill. His perseverance and ongoing consultation and communication with stakeholders certainly is highly commendable. Members would know that shepherding the passage of a significant piece of legislation takes a lot of effort and political management. This legislation has significant benefits for households, industry and the entire housing sector across New South Wales. The work of Jonathan and my ministerial team, under the guidance of Alicia, and the work of the BC and the many stakeholders who have supported the Government's work to reform the building approvals system is highly commendable and will make a huge difference to housing in New South Wales. I commend the amendments to the House.
Mr TIM JAMES ( Willoughby ) ( 16:25 ): I rise on behalf of the Opposition in respect of the Building (Approvals and Practitioners) Bill 2026. I do not intend to restate our earlier statements, including our support for the bill. Specifically, I understand our role today is to deal with the message of the Legislative Council. I am advised there are two amendments, both of which we support. One goes to giving the dispute resolution scheme some teeth, as it should have, and we are happy to back that in. The second amendment goes to having a level of accountability for the timing of the introduction of the dispute resolution scheme—it should come sooner rather than later. We are aware of industry's strong views and calls for that scheme to come into being as soon as possible. Hence, the amendment in the other place to add in the words "by 31 December 2026" is supported. The Coalition supports the amended bill.
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER ( Mr Jason Li ): The question is that the Legislative Council amendments be agreed to.
Motion agreed to.
