A six-person expert panel has been formed to lead a comprehensive review of Victoria’s building system and provide recommendations to Government on a more efficient, responsive and contemporary Building Act.
Decorated British engineer Dame Judith Hackitt, who headed an independent British Government review into the regulatory system for high rise buildings in the wake of the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, will be a part of the panel.
The panel will be chaired by Victoria’s Better Regulation and Red Tape Commissioner Anna Cronin, who has more than 25 years’ experience in policy development.
Minister for planning, Richard Wynne, said, “We’ve appointed experts from Victoria and around the world to help us deliver a better building system.”
The panel will convene in 2021 and includes:
- Anna Cronin — Chair and Commissioner for Better Regulation and Red Tape Commissioner
- Dame Judith Hackitt – Chair of the UK Independent Review of Building regulations and Fire Safety and former Chair of the UK Health and Safety Executive
- Lauren Solomon – CEO of the Consumer Policy Research Centre
- Melanie Fasham – Past President of the Master Builders Association of Victoria and member of the Building Regulations Advisory Committee
- Dr Gerry Ayers – Health and Safety Manager of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (Construction and General Division – Victorian/Tasmanian Branch)
- Professor Ian Bailey AM SC – Founding Chair of the Society of Construction Law Australia and professorial fellow at the Melbourne Law School
The Panel’s first task will be to establish overarching principles to guide the building system review and identify key themes to be investigated and addressed throughout the reform process.
The review will also address the recommendations of the Victorian Cladding Taskforce’s July 2019 Report and the Building Confident report by Professor Peter Shergold AC and Ms Bronwyn Weir.
“Our building and construction sector underpins much of our growth and economic activity – so it makes sense to support this with a modern and effective legislative framework,” Mr Wynne said.
“This panel has a wealth of knowledge and experience and is the first step towards delivering the most comprehensive review ever undertaken into Victoria’s building system.”
