Some pretty big amendments to Australian building law are on their way.

Amendments are progressing through Victoria’s Parliament for the Domestic Building Contracts Act, the Building Act, and the Act that regulates VCAT.

A new dispute resolution body dubbed the ‘Domestic Building Dispute Resolution Victoria’ is being set up.

The court will be used as a first port of call for disputes before they can be taken to VCAT or another court.

It will use conciliation to resolve disputes brought to it, which combines mediation and arbitration techniques, but it will still allow parties to refer matters to VCAT.

In other developments, the Building Practitioners Board (BPB) is to be abolished.

The former BPB’s functions are expected to be performed by the Victorian Building Authority (VBA).

The registration system for building practitioners will see some minor changes too, including the introduction of a five year maximum registration before renewal.

For building practitioners, a ‘show cause’ provision will be introduced to allow the VBA to force practitioners to explain their actions if it believes they may have engaged in misconduct.

The moves are reportedly aimed at ensuring more consumer protection, as well as faster outcomes for builders and a better overall system of building regulation in Victoria.

The VBA’s regulatory powers will be strengthened, adding new requirements for builders seeking registration or to renew registration.

It remains to be seen whether these issues will gain state or national notoriety, given that ostensibly minor industrial relations issues have been brought to mainstream attention when it suits the political narrative.