Industry Briefing Building & Plumbing Commission Reform Update
Design Matters National is hosting an Industry Briefing with the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) to provide building designers with an overview of upcoming buyer protection reforms
Industry
Briefing- Building & Plumbing Commission Reform Update
Tuesday 16 June 2026 12pm-1pm
Live, Online and Interactive
Members: $FREE
Non-Members: $150
OVERVIEW:
Design Matters National is hosting an Industry Briefing with the
Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) to provide building designers with an
overview of upcoming buyer protection reforms.
From 1 July 2026, a suite of significant reforms will implemented to deliver
stronger protections for homeowners and encouraging industry practitioners to
get it right the first time, with impacts across the design, documentation and delivery of building
projects.
These reforms include:
- Rectification Orders post occupancy, giving the BPC
the ability to act when defects are discovered after a homeowner has moved
in — addressing incomplete, noncompliant or defective work for up to ten
years after the occupancy permit is issued.
- Oversight of the new Home Warranty (First Resort)
scheme, replacing DBI and providing greater protection for homeowners when
builders are unwilling or unable to fix defective, non-compliant or
incomplete work.
- A new notification power for high-risk apartment
buildings, enabling the BPC to prevent occupancy when serious defects that
impact safe habitation are identified.
- The transfer of responsibility for the Domestic
Building Contracts Act (DBCA) from Consumer Affairs Victoria to the BPC
and a range of reforms to the DBCA
- Oversight of the new Developer Bond Scheme,
ensuring funds are available to rectify defects identified post occupation
in apartment buildings four storeys and above.
The briefing will focus on providing clear, practical guidance to help
building designers understand what is changing, what to expect from 1 July
2026, and how their role supports safer, compliant building outcomes.
Note: BPC previously consulted with stakeholders in
late 2025/early 2026; these sessions focus on awareness and readiness ahead of
commencement.
Learning Outcomes
· By the end of the session, attendees will be able to:
· Understand the purpose and scope of key buyer
protection reforms
· Be aware of how the reforms intersect with the
design phase of building projects
· Understand the role building designers play in
supporting compliant, quality building outcomes
· Know
where to access further information and guidance as the reforms are implemented
SPEAKER:
Steven Baxas
State Building Surveyor
Steven has more than 33 years of Local Government experience
and was the Municipal Building Surveyor at the City of Melbourne for 7 years
and the Municipal Building Surveyor at the City of Port Phillip for 11 years.
Prior to that, he spent 15 years at the City of Monash.
Steven has formal qualifications in Building Surveying and
Fire Engineering.
He is passionate about building control, and is an
accredited member of the AIBS; Professional Member of the FPA of Australia; a
Member of the Society of Fire Safety at Engineers Australia; a long standing
former member of the Building Regulations Advisory Committee (BRAC), as
appointed by the Minister for Planning and the former Vice President of the
Victorian Municipal Building Surveyors Group.
FAQs:
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