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{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change locationVictoria needs to adopt transition date on engineered stone ban
Victoria needs to adopt transition date on engineered stone ban
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“However, with Victoria looking to adopt the ban ahead of other states and with little implementation time, it will leave industry and consumers in an extremely challenging position,” HIA Executive Director – Victoria, Keith Ryan said today.
“The issue of working with engineered stone is one HIA takes extremely seriously, and we are supportive of the need to minimise the potential exposure of workers to harmful levels of respirable crystalline silica (RCS).
“Ministers have now come to an agreement to define what engineered stone products can be specified, supplied and used into homes.
“At the recent meeting Ministers' they determined an indicative timeframe for the ban which would honour home building and renovation contracts entered into prior to the end of last year to allow for those projects to be completed after the 1 July 2024 date. This is a sensible approach.
“Disappointingly, it appears from emails sent by WorkSafe that Victoria will not be following the approach of other states and territory Governments. Instead, it will forge ahead with no transition or acknowledgement of contracts already entered by consumers prior to the Ministers decision on the ban.
“However, the Minister has made no announcement on the transition which leaves open the question of whether there will be a transition. Importantly, there is also no message from the Government to consumers who will need to vary their building contracts, probably at greater expense, to enable a different product to be installed in their new or renovated home.
“HIA urges the Victorian Government to provide a reasonable timeframe that causes the least disruption and impact on the industry and consumer.
“Furthermore, the industry requires adequate time to adapt, and to make necessary adjustments to plans and manufacturing processes, as well as accessing alternate benchtop products to build the high volume of much-needed Victorian homes that the Government has committed to.
“It is critical now that the Victorian Governments provide a detailed industry transition and communications plan addressing these matters as soon as possible,” concluded Mr Ryan.
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