Labor Urges NSW Government to Fast-Track Building Reforms

NSW Labor has put pressure on the Berejiklian government to bring forward the debate on its construction sector reforms when parliament resumes for a special session in May.

The proposed reforms, which were put together in response to the Opal and Mascot Towers debacles, were originally scheduled to be debated in March, however the debate was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yasmin Catley MP, Deputy Leader of the ALP, has written to the Premier requesting that its building reforms, which include the introduction of a mandatory registration scheme for engineers, be brought forward due to large-scale building works scheduled across the state over the coming months.

Given the Government’s push to prioritise building, construction and infrastructure as a way to stimulate the economy during this health crisis, the ALP believes the legislation should be voted on as soon as possible to ensure building works going forward will be of the highest quality.

NSW parliament is expected to sit on Tuesday, May 12, to debate various measures and adjustments relating to COVID-19.

At this stage, all non-pandemic related matters have been put on hold until parliament resumes later in the year.