Enter your email and password to access secured content, members only resources and discount prices.
Did you become a member online? If not, you will need to activate your account to login.
If you are having problems logging in, please call HIA helpdesk on 1300 650 620 during business hours.
If you are having problems logging in, please call HIA helpdesk on 1300 650 620 during business hours.
Enables quick and easy registration for future events or learning and grants access to expert advice and valuable resources.
Enter your details below and create a login
“Builders need fair notice. New South Wales has already committed to introducing the agreed transition arrangements, but we are concerned that Queensland won’t honour the national position,” said HIA Deputy Executive Director for Queensland Paul Leven.
“The agreed transition allows a period of six months after the ban takes place on 1 July 2024 for pre-existing contracts to be fulfilled, which is a sensible and pragmatic approach.
“There is a significant volume of new homes and apartments currently under construction and scheduled to be built over the next 1-2 years, and engineered stone has been the predominant product specified for use in kitchen and bathrooms,” Mr Leven said.
“Given current lead times in residential building – and especially in more complex buildings, including unit blocks - suppliers will be holding stock for the affected projects.
“However, there has been no announcement about the transition in Queensland, and this leaves open the question of whether there will be one. Importantly, there is also no message from the government to consumers who will need to vary their building contracts, and likely pay more to have a different product installed in their home.
“Builders, kitchen suppliers and stonemasons risk not being able to honour pre-existing contracts with one customer, while another will get the product specified in the contract, though they may only be a few kilometres apart, across the border.
“With a large amount of kitchen, bathroom and stone fabrication taking place across the border, it would be unreasonable for the industry and public in Queensland if we had a different compliance regime from New South Wales for these six months.
“The issue of working with engineered stone is one HIA takes extremely seriously and we support the need to minimise the potential exposure of workers to harmful levels of respirable crystalline silica.
“With Queensland already having extensive RCS controls in place, builders are well-placed to manage an orderly and safe phase out of engineered stone as agreed nationally,” Mr Leven said.
The Victorian Premier, Jacinta Allan, has completed a Cabinet reshuffle following the resignation of the long serving Treasurer, Tim Pallas.
“Today’s announcement of a $1 billion investment towards crisis, temporary accommodation and transitional housing forms an important part of the housing mix and recognises the need for targeted measures to support increasing supply of all forms of housing,” stated Jocelyn Martin, HIA Managing Director.
Notice of Annual Regional Meeting of Members of North Queensland Region
Over the coming months, SafeWork NSW inspectors will be speaking with principal contractors, site supervisors and health and safety representative (HSRs) to ensure they have effective systems in place to manage psychosocial hazards and risks.