Thursday, 14 November 2024

Western Victoria Region

Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (12:56): My question is for the Minister for Planning and concerns the damning Weir Consulting report on the Victorian Building Authority. The investigation makes extraordinary reading. Choosing seven case studies, it identifies:

… the dreadful experience these complainants have had … with the building industry, the VBA and the legal system. Each and every one of them has suffered and continues to suffer severe financial, emotional and physical distress. Every aspect of their lives has been negatively impacted. They have watched their savings or superannuation be replaced with debts they cannot bear.

Despite this comprehensive investigation into complete catastrophic regulatory failure, it concludes:

… delays may mean there is nothing more the VBA can or should do.

Minister, what are my constituents – one of the seven cases – supposed to make of this? Your promise of reform going forward means absolutely nothing to them. What will you do to assist those lives which have been destroyed? Where is the fairness and the justice for them?

Sitting suspended 12:57 pm until 2:03 pm.