Legislative Debate on Building Regulation Amendments

In a recent parliamentary session focused on legislative amendments, members convened to debate Part 2 of the proposed changes. This segment specifically addressed clauses concerning fines within the Building (Infringement Offences, Fees, and Forms) Regulations 2007.

Dr. Lawrence Xu-Nan from the Green Party raised concerns regarding Schedule 32, which outlines adjustments to certain penalties. He noted that while some fines were increased from \$250 to $1,000, others remained unchanged for similar offences. Dr. Xu-Nan questioned why not all related sections were adjusted in line with this increase, pointing out discrepancies such as the fine for displaying a false or misleading building warrant of fitness remaining at $1,000.

Responding to these inquiries, Hon. Chris Penk, Minister for Building and Construction, defended the selective nature of the amendments. He expressed a preference for maintaining consistency within existing legislative frameworks over adjusting fines based on relative severity. Minister Penk argued that the established fine amounts are reflective of the seriousness of each offence.

The debate concluded with Grant McCallum from National—Northland moving to close the discussion on this matter. The motion was agreed upon, leading to the approval of Part 2, which includes clauses 31 and 32 along with Schedule 32. This marks a step forward in enacting these legislative changes.

The session underscored differing viewpoints on how fines should be structured within building regulations, highlighting ongoing discussions about fairness and consistency in legal penalties.