Housing Industry Red Tape Reduction

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright) (14:54): My question is to the Attorney-General. How is the government working to reduce red tape in the housing industry?

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice Reform, Minister for Planning, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Child Protection Reform) (14:55): I thank the honourable member for her question. The government intends to increase the monetary threshold that defines a construction project for the purposes of Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012. The current threshold value is $250,000. A construction project valued at $250,000 or more must comply with additional work health and safety requirements. These include requirements for a principal contractor to be appointed to manage and control the work site, a work health and safety management plan to be prepared, and relevant signage installed.

The housing industry sector has told me that the imposition of these additional requirements, which are appropriate and mandatory for larger construction projects, is a red tape and regulatory burden for low-level residential housing projects. The government has listened to these concerns and intends to increase the threshold to $450,000. By lifting the threshold, the government will further assist the housing industry to differentiate housing construction from larger construction projects for work health and safety purposes. The government will implement the change at the earliest possible opportunity.

The safety of workers is of course the number one priority, and I assure the house that increasing the construction threshold does not preclude the housing industry from complying with its general duties to ensure the safety of its workers and others or from complying with fundamental safety requirements, such as those relating to training, height safety and the safe use of plant and equipment. The change will provide support to the builders in the housing industry sector in South Australia, and I would hope any savings made will contribute to improved affordability for those South Australians who wish to build a new home for them and their families.