Construction reform

MAINTAINING confidence in Queensland’s $46 billion a year industry was paramount in the wake of concerns raised over the structural integrity of NSW high rise apartment development, Opal, Minister for Housing Mick de Brenni has said. “A strong industry, employing hundreds of thousands of Queenslanders is vitally important,” he said. “But so is the safety of Queenslanders, which is a top priority of the Palaszczuk government.” The minister said that while questions have been raised about the builder and certifier in the Opal case, it was the whole system that needed attention. “The building and construction industry in Australia has seen decades of deregulation, largely in the pursuit of productivity.”