{"id":"C2016A00088","name":"Building and Construction Industry (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2016","slug":"building-and-construction-industry-consequential-and-transitional-provisions-act-2016","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"repealed","isInForce":false,"actNumber":"88 of 2016","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":55007,"registerId":"commonwealth-C2016A00088-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"Repealed","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Short title","content":"#### 1 Short title\n\n This Act may be cited as the Building and Construction Industry (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2016.","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"#### 2 Commencement\n\n (1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.\n\n```html\n

Commencement information

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Provisions

Commencement

Date/Details

1. Sections 1 to 3 and anything in this Act not elsewhere covered by this table

The day this Act receives the Royal Assent.

1 December 2016

2. Schedule 1, Parts 1 and 2

At the same time as section 3 of the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Act 2016 commences.

2 December 2016

3. Schedule 1, Part 3

The later of:

(a) immediately after the commencement of subsection 106(7) of the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Act 2016; and

(b) the beginning of 12 March 2014.

2 December 2016

(paragraph (a) applies)

4. Schedule 2

At the same time as section 3 of the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Act 2016 commences.

2 December 2016

\n```\n\n> Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this Act.\n\n (2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Act. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this Act.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Schedules","content":"#### 3 Schedules\n\n Each Act that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.\n\nSchedule 1—Repeal and amendments\n\nPart 1—Repeal of the Fair Work (Building Industry) Act 2012\n\nFair Work (Building Industry) Act 2012\n\n1 The whole of the Act\n\nRepeal the Act.\n\nPart 2—Consequential amendments\n\nFair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009\n\n3 Subparagraphs 337A(b)(iii) and (iv)\n\nRepeal the subparagraphs, substitute:\n\n (iii) the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner referred to in subsection 15(1) of the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Act 2016;\n (iiia) a Deputy Australian Building and Construction Commissioner referred to in subsection 15(2) of the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Act 2016;\n (iv) an Australian Building and Construction Inspector referred to in subsection 66(1) of the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Act 2016;\n\n4 Saving provision\n\nDespite the repeal of subparagraphs 337A(b)(iii) and (iv) of the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 by this Act, those subparagraphs continue to apply after this item commences in relation to disclosures to the Director or a Fair Work Building Industry Inspector before this item commences.\n\nJurisdiction of Courts (Cross‑Vesting) Act 1987\n\n5 Paragraph 4(4)(aba)\n\nRepeal the paragraph, substitute:\n\n (aba) the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Act 2016; or\n\nPart 3—Amendments relating to privacy\n\nBuilding and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Act 2016\n\n6 Subsection 106(7)\n\nOmit “law for the purposes of paragraph (1)(d) of Information Privacy Principle 11 in section 14 of the Privacy Act 1988”, substitute “this Act for the purposes of paragraph 6.2(b) of Australian Privacy Principle 6”.\n\nSchedule 2—Transitional provisions\n\n1 Definitions\n\nIn this Schedule:\n\nCommission means the Australian Building and Construction Commission (previously named the Office of the Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate) as continued in existence after the transition time.\n\nNote: Section 29 of the new Act provides for the Office of the Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate to continue in existence under the name of the Australian Building and Construction Commission.\n\nCommission transition means the transition from the old Office to the Commission.\n\nnew Act means the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Act 2016.\n\nold Act means the Fair Work (Building Industry) Act 2012.\n\nold Office means the Office of the Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate as established and in existence immediately before the transition time.\n\ntransition time means the commencement of section 3 of the new Act.\n\n2 Application of Act\n\n(1) The new Act applies (subject to this item and this Schedule) in relation to any building work that is performed, any action taken, or any omission that occurs, after the transition time.\n\nUnenforceable project agreements\n\n(2) Section 59 of the new Act (project agreements not enforceable) applies in relation to agreements entered into after the transition time.\n\nPowers to obtain information\n\n(3) Chapter 7 of the new Act (powers to obtain information), and any other provision of that Act to the extent that the provision relates to that Chapter, apply in relation to any contravention or alleged contravention of the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Act 2005 (the BCII Act) or the old Act that occurs before the transition time.\n\n(4) The table translates terms in Chapter 7 of the new Act (and in any other provision of the new Act to the extent that the provision relates to that Chapter) for the purposes of this item.\n\n```html\n

Translations of terms

Item

A reference to this term…

is taken to be a reference to this term…

1

a designated building law (within the meaning of the new Act)

a designated building law (within the meaning of the BCII Act or the old Act, as the case requires).

2

this Act

the BCII Act or the old Act, as the case requires.

3

building work (within the meaning of the new Act)

building work (within the meaning of the BCII Act or the old Act, as the case requires).

\n```\n\n(5) To avoid doubt, a person who is an inspector (within the meaning of the new Act) may exercise powers under Chapter 7 of the new Act in relation to an investigation of a contravention or alleged contravention of the BCII Act or the old Act even if the person began the investigation, under those Acts, before the transition time.\n\nIntervening and making submissions in proceedings\n\n(6) Sections 109 and 110 of the new Act apply in relation to any proceeding before a court or the FWC, even if the proceeding began before the transition time.\n\n3 Annual reports\n\n(1) If, in relation to a financial year ending at or before the transition time, the Director has not, by the transition time, prepared and given to the Minister a report referred to in section 14 of the old Act on the performance of the Director’s functions and the exercise of the Director’s powers during the financial year, then the ABC Commissioner must, as soon as practicable after the transition time, prepare and give such a report to the Minister on those functions and powers during that financial year.\n\n(2) If the first financial year to end after the transition time includes a period before the transition time, the annual report referred to in section 20 of the new Act in relation to that financial year must also cover the performance of the Director’s functions and the exercise of the Director’s powers during that period.\n\n4 Continuation of appointment of Director\n\n(1) Subitem (2) applies to the person who, immediately before the transition time, holds office as the Director.\n\n(2) The instrument appointing the person to that office has effect, after the transition time, as if it were an instrument made by the Minister under subsection 21(1) of the new Act appointing the person, for the remainder of the period of the person’s appointment to that office, to the office of the ABC Commissioner.\n\n(3) A determination, in relation to the Director, that is in force immediately before the transition time under the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973 has effect after the transition time as if it were a determination in relation to the ABC Commissioner.\n\n5 Termination of appointments of certain persons\n\n(1) This item applies to a person who, immediately before the transition time, holds office as either of the following:\n\n (a) a member of the Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate Advisory Board (including the Chair of the Board);\n (b) the Independent Assessor.\n\n(2) The person ceases to hold that office at the transition time.\n\n(3) Nothing in this item prevents the person being appointed to an office under the new Act.\n\n6 Staff of old Office\n\n(1) The Commission transition does not affect the continuity of the employment, or the terms and conditions of employment (including under any enterprise agreement), of the persons who, immediately before the transition time, are engaged as staff under section 26K of the old Act.\n\n(2) Those persons are taken, after the transition time, to be staff under section 30 of the new Act.\n\n7 Consultants to Director\n\n(1) The Commission transition does not affect the continuity of the engagement, or the terms and conditions of engagement, of the persons who, immediately before the transition time, are engaged as consultants to the Director under section 26M of the old Act.\n\n(2) Those persons are taken, after the transition time, to be engaged as consultants to the ABC Commissioner under section 32 of the new Act.\n\n8 Continuation of designation of Federal Safety Commissioner\n\nAn instrument:\n\n (a) that is in force under section 29 of the old Act immediately before the transition time; and\n (b) that designates a position in the Department as the position of Federal Safety Commissioner;\n\nis taken, after the transition time, to have been made under section 37 of the new Act.\n\n9 Preserving regulations relating to the Federal Safety Commissioner\n\n(1) Regulations made by the Governor‑General for the purposes of paragraphs 30(h) and 32(1)(c) of the old Act that are in force immediately before the transition time continue in force after that time as if the regulations were rules made by the Minister for the purposes of paragraphs 38(e) and 40(1)(c) of the new Act.\n\n(2) The table translates terms in the regulations for the purposes of this item.\n\n```html\n

Translations of terms in regulations

Item

A reference to this term…

is taken to be a reference to this term…

1

paragraph 30(h) of the old Act

paragraph 38(e) of the new Act.

2

the Federal Safety Commissioner (within the meaning of the old Act)

the Federal Safety Commissioner (within the meaning of the new Act).

3

occupational health and safety (within the meaning of the old Act)

work health and safety (within the meaning of the new Act).

4

an accredited person (within the meaning of the old Act)

an accredited person (within the meaning of the new Act).

5

paragraph 32(1)(c) of the old Act

paragraph 40(1)(c) of the new Act.

\n```\n\n(3) Subitem (1) does not prevent the repeal of those regulations.\n\n10 Consultants to old Federal Safety Commissioner\n\n(1) The Commission transition does not affect the continuity of the engagement, or the terms and conditions of engagement, of the persons who, immediately before the transition time, are engaged as consultants to the Federal Safety Commissioner under section 34 of the old Act.\n\n(2) Those persons are taken, after the transition time, to be engaged as consultants to the Federal Safety Commissioner under section 42 of the new Act.\n\n11 Preserving the accreditation scheme\n\n(1) Regulations made by the Governor‑General for the purposes of section 35 of the old Act that are in force immediately before the transition time continue in force after that time as if the regulations were rules made by the Minister for the purposes of section 43 of the new Act.\n\n(2) The table translates terms in the regulations for the purposes of this item.\n\n```html\n

Translations of terms in regulations

Item

A reference to this term…

is taken to be a reference to this term…

1

the Federal Safety Commissioner (within the meaning of the old Act)

the Federal Safety Commissioner (within the meaning of the new Act).

2

a Federal Safety Officer (within the meaning of the old Act)

a Federal Safety Officer (within the meaning of the new Act).

3

building work (within the meaning of the old Act)

building work (within the meaning of the new Act).

4

a constitutional corporation

a constitutional corporation, the Commonwealth or a corporate Commonwealth entity.

5

section 63 of the old Act

Division 3 of Part 3 of Chapter 7 of the new Act.

6

subsection 35(1), (2) or (4) of the old Act

subsection 43(1), (2) or (4) of the new Act.

\n```\n\n(3) Subitem (1) does not prevent the repeal of those regulations.\n\n12 Examination notices issued before commencement\n\n(1) The repeal by this Act of section 47 of the old Act does not affect the continuity of any examination notice issued under that section before the transition time.\n\n(2) For things that occur after the transition time in relation to an examination notice that is issued before that time, the following provisions (as in force immediately before that time) continue to apply as if references in those provisions or in that examination notice to the Director were references to the ABC Commissioner:\n\n (a) sections 49 to 58 of the old Act;\n (b) a provision of any instrument made under those sections.\n\n13 Reports by Commonwealth Ombudsman\n\n(1) If, in relation to a financial year ending at or before the transition time, the Commonwealth Ombudsman has not, by the transition time, prepared and given to the Parliament a report under section 54A of the old Act about examinations conducted under Division 3 of Part 1 of Chapter 7 of that Act during the financial year, then the Commonwealth Ombudsman must, as soon as practicable after the transition time, prepare and present to the Parliament a report in accordance with that section on those examinations during that financial year.\n\n(2) If the first financial year to end after the transition time includes a period before the transition time, the report under section 65 of the new Act in relation to that financial year must also cover examinations conducted under Division 3 of Part 1 of Chapter 7 of the old Act during that period.\n\n14 Payment for expenses incurred in attending an examination\n\n(1) Regulations made by the Governor‑General for the purposes of section 58 of the old Act that are in force immediately before the transition time continue in force after that time as if the regulations were rules made by the Minister for the purposes of section 63 of the new Act.\n\n(2) The table translates terms in the regulations for the purposes of this item.\n\n```html\n

Translations of terms in regulations

Item

A reference to this term…

is taken to be a reference to this term…

1

an examination (within the meaning of the old Act)

an examination (within the meaning of the new Act).

2

an examination notice (within the meaning of the old Act)

an examination notice (within the meaning of the new Act).

3

subsection 58(1) of the old Act

subsection 63(1) of the new Act.

\n```\n\n(3) Subitem (1) does not prevent the repeal of those regulations.\n\n14A Continuation of nomination of AAT presidential members\n\n(1) This item applies to a person if, immediately before the transition time, an instrument is in force under section 44 of the old Act nominating the person to issue examination notices under Division 3 of Part 1 of Chapter 7 of the old Act.\n\n(2) The instrument has effect, after the transition time, as if it were an instrument made by the Minister under section 61A of the new Act nominating the person to issue examination notices under Part 2 of Chapter 7 of the new Act.\n\n14B Preserving regulations relating to examination notices\n\nRegulations made by the Governor‑General for the purposes of a provision of the old Act referred to in column 1 of the table that are in force immediately before the transition time continue in force after that time as if the regulations were rules made by the Minister for the purposes of the provision of the new Act referred to in column 2 of the table.\n\n```html\n

Preserving regulations relating to examination notices

Item

Column 1
Old Act

Column 2
New Act

1

Subsection 45(3)

Subsection 61B(3)

2

Paragraph 47(1)(g)

Paragraph 61C(1)(f)

3

Paragraphs 48(a) and (f)

Paragraphs 61D(a) and (f)

\n```\n\n15 Continuation of appointment of Federal Safety Officers\n\n(1) This item applies to a person if, immediately before the transition time, an instrument is in force under section 60 of the old Act appointing the person as a Federal Safety Officer.\n\n(2) The instrument has effect, after the transition time, as if it were an instrument made by the Federal Safety Commissioner under section 68 of the new Act appointing the person as a Federal Safety Officer.\n\n16 Identity cards for Federal Safety Officers\n\nThe identity card of a person who is a Federal Safety Officer immediately before the transition time that was issued under section 61 of the old Act is taken after that time to have been issued under section 69 of the new Act.\n\n17 Disclosure of information by the ABC Commissioner or the Federal Safety Commissioner\n\n(1) This item applies if information was acquired under the old Act by any of the following persons in the course of performing functions or exercising powers:\n\n (a) the Director;\n (b) an inspector;\n (c) a member of staff referred to in subsection 26K(1) of that Act;\n (d) a person assisting the Director under section 26L of that Act;\n (e) a consultant under section 26M of that Act;\n (f) a person assisting an inspector;\n (g) the Federal Safety Commissioner;\n (h) a Federal Safety Officer;\n (i) an APS employee assisting the Federal Safety Commissioner;\n (j) a consultant under section 34 of that Act.\n\n(2) For the purposes of section 105 of the new Act, that information is taken to have been acquired by the following person in the course of performing functions or exercising powers:\n\n (a) for paragraphs (1)(a) to (f)—the ABC Commissioner;\n (b) for paragraphs (1)(g) to (j)—the Federal Safety Commissioner (within the meaning of the new Act).\n\n18 Protected information\n\nFor the purposes of sections 105 and 106 of the new Act, information that is protected information under section 65 of the old Act is taken to be protected information under the new Act.\n\n19 Legal proceedings\n\nIf any proceedings to which the Director is a party (including as a result of section 71 of the old Act) are pending in a court or tribunal immediately before the transition time, the ABC Commissioner is, after the transition time, the party to those proceedings.\n\n20 Settled matters\n\n(1) The ABC Commissioner (or an inspector) may begin or continue to participate in a building proceeding (within the meaning of section 73 of the old Act) even if the proceeding relates to a matter that was settled (as referred to in that section) before the transition time.\n\n(2) The ABC Commissioner (or an inspector) may institute a building proceeding (within the meaning of section 73A of the old Act) even if the conduct giving rise to the proceeding was the subject of a matter that was settled (as referred to in that section) before the transition time.\n\n21 Director etc. not liable for conduct in good faith\n\nDespite the repeal by this Act of section 77 of the old Act, that section continues to apply, after the transition time, in relation to anything done, or omitted to be done, before that time by a protected person (within the meaning of that section).\n\n22 Assets and liabilities of old Office\n\nAssets and liabilities of the old Office immediately before the transition time continue, after the transition time, to be assets and liabilities of the Commission (without any conveyance, transfer or assignment).\n\n23 References in instruments to old Office and Director\n\n(1) A reference to the old Office in an instrument that is in force immediately before the transition time has effect, after the transition time, as a reference to the Commission.\n\n(2) A reference to the Director in an instrument that is in force immediately before the transition time has effect, after the transition time, as a reference to the ABC Commissioner.\n\n24 Effect of things done by, or in relation to, the old Office\n\nA thing done by, or in relation to, the old Office before the transition time has effect, after the transition time, as if it had been done by, or in relation to, the Commission.\n\n25 Effect of this Schedule on the operation of section 7 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901\n\nThis Schedule does not limit the operation of section 7 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.\n\n26 Rules\n\n(1) The Minister may, by legislative instrument, make rules prescribing matters:\n\n (a) required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed by the rules; or\n (b) necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.\n\n(2) The rules may prescribe matters of a transitional nature (including prescribing any saving or application provisions) relating to:\n\n (a) the repeals or amendments made by this Act; or\n (b) the enactment of this Act or the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Act 2016.","sortOrder":2}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This Act changes scope from the previous legal framework by repealing the Fair Work (Building Industry) Act 2012 and transferring its functions, staff, assets, liabilities, ongoing proceedings, protected information and many regulations into the institutional and legal framework created by the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Act 2016. Mechanically, the Commission and ABC Commissioner replace the old Office and Director (Schedule 1 Part 1 item 1; Schedule 2 items 4, 22–24), the new Act applies to building work performed after the transition time (Schedule 2 item 2(1)), and investigatory powers in Chapter 7 of the new Act apply to contraventions or alleged contraventions under the old laws that occurred before transition (Schedule 2 item 2(3)). The Act therefore shifts where and how regulatory authority is exercised while preserving continuity for many existing instruments and persons (Schedule 2 items 6–7, 9, 11, 12, 14–16)."},"complexity_factors":["Extensive cross-references between the old Act, the new Act and the BCII Act (Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 translation tables).","Multiple transitional mechanisms preserving appointments, staff continuity, instruments, regulations and ongoing legal proceedings (Schedule 2 items 4, 6–7, 9–16, 19, 22–24).","Retention and translation of multiple classes of delegated instruments (regulations → rules) and practical dependence on secondary instruments (Schedule 2 items 9, 11, 14, 26).","Application of investigatory powers in Chapter 7 of the new Act to conduct before transition time (Schedule 2 items 2(3)–(5)), creating retroactive procedural effects.","Detailed term-translation tables in several items requiring careful mapping of legal definitions (Schedule 2 translation tables).","Concurrent preservation of protections, reporting obligations and legal roles (items 3, 14, 17–18, 21), which introduces multiple points where continuity must be verified.","Delegation of consequential changes across other Commonwealth Acts (Schedule 1 Part 2), increasing systemic legal interaction."],"plain_english_summary":"This Act repeals the Fair Work (Building Industry) Act 2012 and implements the transition to the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Act 2016 by shifting staff, ongoing proceedings, instruments, regulations and powers to the new Australian Building and Construction Commission and ABC Commissioner. It preserves existing rules and rights, while allowing the Minister to make transitional rules.\n\nIt affects builders, regulated entities, inspectors, former Office staff and parties to ongoing matters—ensuring continuity but enabling the new regime’s information‑gathering and enforcement to apply."},"kimi_summary":{"_metrics":{"model":"kimi-k2.5","source":"moonshot-realtime","completionTokens":1780},"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The Act remains strictly limited to its stated purpose of providing consequential amendments and transitional arrangements for the re-establishment of the Australian Building and Construction Commission. It does not expand beyond the technical machinery necessary to transition from the Fair Work (Building Industry) Act 2012 to the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Act 2016."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple term translation tables mapping definitions between the repealed 2012 Act, the new 2016 Act, and the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Act 2005","Nested cross-references requiring simultaneous tracking across three legislative regimes and temporal boundaries (pre/post 'transition time')","17 discrete transitional items with specific saving provisions for regulations, examination notices, appointments, and legal proceedings","Conditional commencement provisions tied to the commencement of the primary Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Act 2016","Complex continuity provisions preserving employment terms, enterprise agreements, and consultancies across the organisational change"],"plain_english_summary":"This Act is the technical 'clean-up crew' that supported the re-establishment of the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) in 2016. It performs three main jobs:\n\n**1. Repeals the old law**\n- Scraps the *Fair Work (Building Industry) Act 2012* (the legislation that created the previous inspectorate).\n\n**2. Updates other laws**\n- Amends the *Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009* and the *Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross‑Vesting) Act 1987* to replace references to the old \"Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate\" with the new \"Australian Building and Construction Commission\".\n- Updates privacy law references to match modern Australian Privacy Principles.\n\n**3. Ensures a seamless transition**\n- **Staff and appointments**: Existing staff, consultants, and the Director automatically transfer to the new Commission with their employment terms intact.\n- **Ongoing work**: Investigations, court proceedings, and examination notices started under the old system continue under the new one.\n- **Safety schemes**: Preserves the Federal Safety Commissioner accreditation scheme and existing safety officer appointments.\n- **Assets and liabilities**: Everything owned or owed by the old Office transfers to the new Commission.\n\nIn short, it makes sure that when the government changed the building industry regulator, nothing fell through the cracks—ongoing cases stayed alive, staff kept their jobs, and existing safety accreditations remained valid."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/building-and-construction-industry-consequential-and-transitional-provisions-act-2016","history":"/api/acts/building-and-construction-industry-consequential-and-transitional-provisions-act-2016/history","analysis":"/api/acts/building-and-construction-industry-consequential-and-transitional-provisions-act-2016/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/building-and-construction-industry-consequential-and-transitional-provisions-act-2016/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/building-and-construction-industry-consequential-and-transitional-provisions-act-2016/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/building-and-construction-industry-consequential-and-transitional-provisions-act-2016/documents"}}