Don't abolish BIA, urges CIC

The Construction Industry Council has strongly urged the Government to reconsider its proposal to dismantle the Building Industry Authority in the wake of the leaky-buildings crisis and move its functions to a government department.

CIC chairman John Pfahlert says the transfer would be a retrograde step and it would be better to improve the governance and capability of the BIA rather than disestablish it.

"There is a necessity for greater guidance and assistance to be given to the industry and to territorial authorities by the BIA, resulting in more consistent interpretation of requirements," Mr Pfahlert says.

"The BIA also needs to be more transparently accessible to industry, and not less, as might be the case if it were housed within a government agency."

The Construction Industry Council was established late last year and comprises the 21 major construction industry associations which have a national structure and focus.

Its views on the move to abolish the BIA are contained in a submission on the Ministry of Economic Development's discussion document, Better Regulation of the Building Industry.

Mr Pfahlert says the council is concerned at the tight time frame for consultation on changes to the Building Act, but has offered officials the availability of an industry task force for further consultation.

The council has also noted the importance of ensuring the previous reviews undertaken by the Department of Internal Affairs are incorporated in any drafting of new legislation. Mr Pfahlert says the CIC is broadly supportive of the changes proposed by the Economic Development Ministry to reform the Act.

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