Secrecy ‘for good reason’

Minister defends silence on cladding

HOUSING Minister Mick de Brenni has defended his department’s decision not to reveal which Gold Coast buildings contained flammable aluminium cladding.

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission found two highrise buildings had used the same type of material implicated in fires in Melbourne and Dubai as well as this week’s tragedy in London.

The commission has refused for 18 months to reveal which buildings were affected, citing “privacy reasons”.

The material has been removed. Mr de Brenni said the building regulators were not aware of any buildings which were unsafe due to nonconforming cladding.

“If our building regulator was to advise me that they are aware of an unsafe building on the Gold Coast I would be taking steps to make that information available in whatever way the law allows me,” he said.

“Knowing that our regulators have declared these properties to be safe, I can understand why the regulator has taken the view that it’s not in anyone’s interest to generate needless concern by naming them.

“These buildings have a commercial value to the people who own them. By maintaining confidentiality I can see that the QBCC is ensuring those people don’t have a lingering black mark against their investment when there is no safety concern.”

New laws before the Queensland Parliament aim to stop unsafe products being sold and installed and require them to be removed, even after a building is complete.

The regulator will also be able to search buildings to find products. “These new laws will mean that if we need to undertake an audit of a class of highrise buildings, for the first time ever we will have the power to get it done, properly and efficiently,” Mr de Brenni said.