Combustible cladding ban on new buildings in Queensland
The Queensland Government has announced its proposal to ban all aluminium composite panels with a polyethylene (PE) core of greater than 30 per cent across all new Queensland buildings.
Minister for Housing and Public Works Mick de Brenni said the proposal would help in protecting Queenslanders and has called for the Commonwealth Government to implement nationwide changes through an importation ban of these products.
Certifier regulations
Alongside the combustible cladding ban, the Government proposed regulations to address the current issue affecting certifiers' ability to hold insurance with exclusions, which will:
- require certifiers to declare combustible cladding has not been used and that there has been no product substitution during the construction process; and
- allow certifiers to remain licensed while they are holding professional indemnity insurance featuring cladding related exclusions.
Mr de Brenni remarked these changes will provide the industry and the 400 licensed certifiers in Queensland with immediate confidence to continue operating.
Future changes to follow
The combustible cladding ban and certifier insurance provisions will be effected by proposed new regulations, which are yet to be released. The Property Council of Australia has noted that the proposed regulations will be similar to the current provisions introduced in New South Wales and Victoria.
The new proposed regulations are part of an immediate response to the current issue within the industry regarding non-conforming building products and certifiers' insurance. Mr de Brenni said this will be followed by a range of longer term system reform approaches, including continuing to pursue the Commonwealth Government for nationwide changes.
