Queensland Government Introduces Building Reg Reno to Streamline Construction

The Queensland Government has announced the launch of the Building Reg Reno (Building Regulation Renovation) initiative, aimed at simplifying the building process across the state. The initiative seeks to:

• Cut red tape
• Reduce unnecessary costs
• Ensure the industry runs smoother

These reforms will be progressively implemented to enhance productivity in the building and construction sector while maintaining a balanced, risk-based regulatory framework and ensuring compliance with appropriate building standards.

The Master Plumbers’ Association of Queensland (MPAQ) has welcomed the government's efforts to reduce regulatory burdens, making it easier for businesses to operate in Queensland. However, MPAQ emphasises the need to safeguard subcontractors by maintaining protection through retention trust accounts. MPAQ looks forward to collaborating with the government to provide industry feedback.

MPAQ’s Advocacy and Achievements

MPAQ has successfully pushed for several reforms, including:

• Accelerating the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) transition to digital platforms to streamline paperwork and simplify license management.
• Simplifying safety notifications by eliminating duplicate reporting requirements for QBCC and Workplace Health and Safety Queensland.
• Reviewing the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme to reassess insurance thresholds, coverage, amounts, and claim timeframes.

Implementation of Building Reg Reno

The Building Reg Reno is structured into multiple phases to ensure a smooth transition for the industry.

Tranche 1 – Project Trust Accounts

To alleviate pressure on smaller contractors, the government has paused the rollout of trust accounts for private projects below $10 million. This pause allows additional time to educate builders and subcontractors on existing payment protection measures.

The trust account framework continues to apply to:

• Eligible Queensland Government contracts worth $1 million or more,
• Private sector, local government, statutory authority, and government-owned corporation contracts valued at $10 million or more.

As the government refines these reforms, MPAQ, will continue working towards a more efficient, cost-effective, and fair construction landscape in Queensland.

Tranche 2 – Financial Requirements, Fire Protection, and Fee Waivers

From March 2025, additional regulatory amendments will be introduced to:

• Reduce administrative burdens by eliminating Minimum Financial Requirements (MFR) reporting for small-scale licensees (SC1 and SC2), benefiting around 50,000 individual licensees.
• Provide an extended compliance period (until May 2030) for new occupational licensing and upskilling requirements in passive fire protection and related fields.
• Waive occupational licensing fees for plumbers who already hold a QBCC contractor license for certain fire protection work – this applies to a small number of restricted water plumber licence holders.
• Maintain existing regulatory requirements for building certifiers and homeowners, ensuring continued stability within the sector.

Tranches 3 and 4 – Future Reforms and Industry Enhancements

Long-term measures are also being explored to further ease regulatory pressures on Queensland’s building industry. Proposed changes include:

• Expediting QBCC's transition to digital platforms for improved license management.
• Establishing clear and consistent implementation timeframes for National Construction Code updates.
• Streamlining safety notifications by removing duplicate reporting obligations.
• Introducing a Queensland Housing Code to standardise design and siting rules.
• Enhancing the QBCC’s internal review and dispute resolution processes for greater efficiency.
• Reviewing licensing thresholds and restoration timeframes for QBCC licensees.
• Re-evaluating insurance thresholds, coverage, and timeframes under the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme.

Additionally, the Queensland Productivity Commission will collaborate with the government to align Building Reg Reno with its ongoing regulatory review of the building industry. MPAQ is committed to engaging with the Queensland Productivity Commission to ensure the concerns and interests of the plumbing industry are adequately represented in the regulatory review process.

For more information contact MPAQ on 07 3273 0800 or visit www.housing.qld.gov.au/BuildingRegulationReform