Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) officers checked the licences of almost 170 individuals as part of an ongoing campaign around the State to stamp out unlicensed, illegal and defective work.
QBCC Commissioner, Anissa Levy, says another individual was suspected of hiring an unlicensed worker and officers detected a further 22 offences relating to non-compliant signage during the recent three-day audit of residential building sites.
“The three people suspected of performing unlicensed work and the builder suspected of engaging an unlicensed worker are now subject to further investigations which could result in prosecution,” Commissioner Levy says.
“The QBCC has zero tolerance for these illegal activities and there are significant penalties for anyone caught acting unlawfully.
“One of the reasons we take a tough stance in proactively identifying and preventing unlawful activity is to help protect owners and workers from financial risks or defective building work.
“Our compliance audits also ensure there is a level playing field for our licensees who are doing the right thing by obtaining qualifications and experience and providing the QBCC with evidence of their financial stability each year.”
Commissioner Levy says the QBCC’s audits are not just about detecting offending behaviour, as previous campaigns reveal the majority of individuals working on building sites are compliant.
“As most people are doing the right thing, our officers visiting building sites can focus on engaging with licensees and home owners to raise awareness of topical issues, provide them with advice on their rights and responsibilities, and information about the role of the QBCC,” she says.
“Building strong relationships with the industry and home owners, allows us to foster a culture of professionalism and compliance and it helps ensure safer construction practices."
Background
An individual or company caught working without a licence can be issued with fines of up to $3,096 or prosecuted in court. Repeat offending can lead to imprisonment for up to a year.
Public licence register
The QBCC website provides free information to help home and property owners find a qualified, licensed local contractor.