Minister for innovation and better regulation

A “CRUEL” deal between property developers and utilities companies threatens to add hundreds of dollars more to new tenants and unit owner’s bills.

Industry sources 20 years ago said apartment blocks were built with individual meters for each dwelling. Developers also carried the cost of building that network.

Now, many apartment blocks have a meter for the whole building — installed by the energy provider — so they can lock in that building to one provider.

Sub-contractors would be better protected from late payments and insolvencies under NSW Government reforms being released for community feedback today.

Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said the proposed Building and Construction Security of Payment Act reforms aimed to ensure this important sector continued to grow and strengthen across the State.

“The construction industry is a vital contributor to growth in NSW, and employs more than 300,000 people,” Mr Kean said.

Article by Andrew Clennell appeared in The Australian. 

NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley faces a leadership challenge by the end of the year, according to informed Labor sources, if his polling numbers do not improve when the party conducts statewide research next month.

A Wollongong-based company has been fined $375,000 following a workplace incident where a 19 year old man was killed after being run over by a turf harvester.

Turfco Australia Pty Ltd was sentenced at the District Court of NSW for failing to ensure the health and safety of its workers.

Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said the incident was a tragic reminder to all companies that worker safety must be a top priority.

Short-term holiday letting will have tougher but fairer regulation from 2019, after the NSW Parliament passed the Government’s plan for the industry yesterday. 

Minister for Better Regulation, Matt Kean, said the short-term holiday letting reforms bolster NSW’s sharing economy while clamping down on unruly guests.

“Our plan is a win-win. It acknowledges the huge financial contribution online booking platforms make to the NSW economy, but also takes a zero-tolerance approach to raucous guests,” Mr Kean said.

Tradies and small businesses will save hundreds of dollars a year under a proposed NSW Government scheme allowing licence holders to work across state borders.

Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said the Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR) program would apply to architects, plumbers, drainers and gasfitters.

“The AMR program would enable those operators to work in any state or territory across the country, and give consumers more choice,” Mr Kean said.

The NSW Government, along with the Commonwealth and other states and territories, has called for mandatory permanent labelling of cladding products, Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said.
 
State and Territory Building Ministers and the Commonwealth supported the move at the Building Ministers’ Forum (BMF), held in Adelaide yesterday.
 

Commonwealth State and Territory Building Ministers have supported new warnings signs against dangerous cladding after a ban was called on by NSW Fair Trading. 

Minister for Innovation and Better Regulations Matt Kean told 2SM the reform is the best solution to guarantee the right products are used.