In the media
$15bn lending for SMEs announced
The federal government has announced $15 billion in
lending for small businesses as part of its $100 billion
"bridge" to support the Australian economy through the
spread of coronavirus (20 March 2020).
More...
Research to make construction cheaper and safer
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen
Andrews said the work of the Building 4.0 CRC would provide
Australians with lower cost, smart housing solutions and put
Australia among the world leaders in the advanced manufacture of
buildings (18 March 2020).
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Manufacturers to benefit from government stimulus
packages
Retail sales are expected to boost for machine and
equipment manufacturers under the federal government's $1.3
billion stimulus package (16 March 2020).
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$1.3bn support package for small businesses in response
to coronavirus
A $1.3 billion support package from the Federal Government
to keep 117,000 apprentices and trainees employed will become
available for up to 70,000 small businesses (16 March 2020).
More...
Stimulus measures will support home building
HIA welcomes the Australian Government stimulus package,
particularly the support provided for apprentices," said HIA
Chief Economist, Tim Reardon. The construction industry employs
over 1.1 million people, with residential building work generating
over $105 billion for the Australian economy in 2018 (12 March
2020).
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New South Wales
'Glacial progress': Minister under fire over
flammable cladding crisis
Cabinet is still considering how it should handle the
flammable cladding crisis more than six months after
recommendations from the building commissioner (17 March 2020).
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Sydney's top 15 major development projects
Sydney is set to add a spate of new development to its
iconic skyline over the coming years, boosted by a now-$55 billion
infrastructure and transport pipeline (12 March 2020).
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Queensland
Major Brisbane water treatment plant to receive $35
million upgrade
A $35 million filtration upgrade is to be carried out at
the Mt Crosby East Bank Water Treatment Plant in Brisbane's
west to improve its resilience to extreme weather events and to
enhance water supply security for south-east Queensland (18 March
2020).
More...
Brisbane welcomes approval of 2020 Master Plan
Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) has
welcomed the approval of its 2020 Master Plan by the Deputy Prime
Minister. Providing a 20-year blueprint for development, the Master
Plan outlines the land use planning and development intent for BNE,
ensuring essential aviation infrastructure is continually delivered
in advance of the increased demand (18 March 2020).
More...
Victoria
Plans for world-first solar power plant in western
Victoria
On behalf of the Australian Government, the Australian
Renewable Agency (ARENA) has announced $3 million
in funding to RayGen Resources Pty Ltd (RayGen) to
conduct a technical and commercial feasibility study for a 4 MW
"solar hydro" power plant to be built in north-western
Victoria (19 March 2020).
More...
Residents fight proposal to store contaminated West Gate
Tunnel soil near Bacchus Marsh
More than a thousand people from a community west of
Melbourne have turned out to protest a proposal for contaminated
soil from the West Gate Tunnel Project to be stored in a former
coal mine (11 March 2020).
More...
In practice and courts
New NatHERS certificate to be rolled out by 30 April
2020
A new NatHERS certificate will soon come into use as
software tools transition to Chenath Engine version 3.21.The new
NatHERS certificate has been developed after significant
consultation with industry users and will replace the previous
"universal certificate" for all new assessments from 1
May 2020. Preview the new NatHERS Certificate
here.
RICS UN backed global standard
RICS is chairing the development of the International Fire Safety
Standard and it follows previous RICS work to bring consistency
to the standards people can expect globally across property,
construction and valuation. The International Fire Safety Standards
haved closed with the final international standard to be published
later in 2020.
New guidance improves health and safety reporting for
commercial properties
New guidance for chartered surveyors on building condition
reports for commercial property has been released by RICS to bring
further transparency to the purchase or sale of commercial assets.
The first edition of Technical due diligence of commercial property
- which will become the version to use for all regulated members
and firms globally on 1 April 2020.
More...
Queensland
Department of Housing and Works: Sign up to get paid
faster
We're supporting small business by reducing payment
time frames for our small business suppliers in the On-Time Payment
Policy. From 1 July 2020, small business suppliers will get paid
within 20 days, instead of the standard 30 days for valid,
undisputed invoices of any value. More...
QBCC reminder: Important changes for Mechanical Services
Licences
The new laws will apply if you contract for, supervise or
personally carry out mechanical services work in Queensland
regardless of the value of the work. These changes will be
implemented in a phased approach:From 1 July 2020 all existing
contractors who perform mechanical services work, including medical
gas, must be licensed.
More...
QBCC: Safer Buildings program enters final stage
The QBCC is administering the three-part Safer Buildings
program to understand the extent of combustible cladding use in
Queensland's private buildings. The Safer Buildings program has
advanced considerably with Part 3 of the combustible cladding
checklist now underway. The deadline for building owners to
finalise the Part 3 assessment is 3 May 2021. For more information
on the Safer Buildings program, visit www.saferbuildings.qld.gov.au
Cases
Parrwood Pty Ltd v Trinity Constructions (Aust) Pty
Ltd [2020] NSWSC
208
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION & Progress payments —
Where right to a progress payment arose before suspension —
Whether adjudication determined amount of progress payment &
Whether adjudicator committed jurisdictional error — Whether
party entitled to withdraw adjudication application under s 26 and
file new adjudication application — Where supporting
statement under Building and Construction Industry Security of
Payment Act 1999 (NSW) s 13(8) allegedly false or misleading
— Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act
1999 (NSW), ss 8, 9, 13, 22, 26 and 34.
EVIDENCE & Application of the principle in Briginshaw v
Briginshaw.
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE & Where cross summons filed late &
Whether decision not to challenge the first adjudicator
determination amounts to election
This publication does not deal with every important topic or change in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you have found this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances please contact one of the named individuals listed.
