Message from Legislative Assembly 14 March 2002, 3rd Session, Minutes No. 4, Item 2.

Resolution agreed to with amendment, Council Members appointed, and message to Assembly — 19 March 2002, 3rd Session, Minutes No. 5, Items 10 and 11.

Message from Legislative Assembly agreeing to amendment to the resolution—19 March 2002, 3rd Session, Minutes No. 5, Items 15.

A Joint Select Committee has been appointed to consider and report upon the quality of buildings with the following terms of reference:

(1)

(a) The Committee inquire generally into the quality of buildings in NSW to determine whether there are enough checks and balances existing to ensure consumers are guaranteed that their new homes are safe, properly certified and built to satisfactory standards.

(b) The Committee inquire into and report on the certification process created under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and in operation since July 1998, including, but not limited to:

(i) What changes if any, need to be made to tighten the certification process;

(ii) What sort of qualifications experience and conduct is expected of the people who certify buildings and how should their certification be monitored; and

(iii) Whether there is enough regulatory power in the certification system to deal with buildings that do not comply with the approval codes and standards.

(c) The Committee shall also inquire into:

(i) The adequacy of disciplinary procedures available in the certification process;

(ii)The adequacy of current minimum building standards, particularly in regard to waterproofing, thermal and noise insulation in meeting environmental and cost performance expectations in the community; and

(iii)The extent to which matters such as inappropriate building standards and shortfalls in the current certification system have resulted in increased
pressures on the Home Warranty Insurance Scheme.

(d) The Committee inquire into and report on the builders' licensing scheme as established under the Home Building Act 1989, including, but not limited to:

(i) The qualifications, experience and conduct required for the licensing of the people who build our residential buildings;

(ii) The adequacy of the checks and balances in the builders' licensing scheme; and

(iii) The role of the Department of Fair Trading and the Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal in dispute resolution under the Act.

The Committee is to report by 19 July 2002.