The Act gives the Secretary power to ban specified unsafe uses of building products, require product assessments, publish findings, and identify affected buildings so owners, councils or other authorities can be ordered to remediate. It creates investigatory powers, enforcement tools (criminal, civil, penalty notices, injunctions) and executive/director liability.
It chiefly affects manufacturers, suppliers, building owners, councils and authorised officers. It centralises discretion to protect occupants from death/serious injury, while shifting remediation/testing costs and compliance burdens onto owners and industry.
The Building Products (Safety) Act 2017 (NSW) establishes a targeted, risk-based regulatory regime to prevent and remediate the use of unsafe building products in New South Wales. At its heart is the power conferred on the Secretary of the Department (s 9(1)) to impose a building product use ban by written notice published on the internet whenever the Secretary is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the use of a specified product in a building is unsafe. Section 4 defines a safety risk as any situation in which occupants are or will likely be at risk of death or serious injury, expressly noting that the risk may be conditional (for example, only materialising in the event of fire). The ban may be calibrated in multiple ways under s 9(3): it can target particular uses, classes of buildings, classes of persons, or be subject to exceptions and conditions.
Once a ban is in force, Part 4 activates a downstream process for identifying and rectifying affected buildings. An “affected building” is any building in which a banned product has been used in a prohibited manner, regardless of whether the use predated the ban (s 17). The Secretary may issue an affected building notice (s 18) or a general building safety notice for a class of buildings (s 19). These notices trigger obligations on councils and other relevant enforcement authorities to consider making a building product rectification order under s 20. Such an order requires the owner to eliminate or minimise the safety risk and to remediate or restore the building (s 20(2)). The order is treated, with modifications, as a development control order under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act) or, for non-EP&A buildings, as an order under s 124 of the Local Government Act 1993 (s 21).
The Act also equips the Secretary with proactive investigative tools. Division 1 of Part 6 authorises building product investigations (s 34) whose results may be published and used to support or amend bans (s 36). Division 2 permits the Secretary to compel a manufacturer or supplier to conduct a product assessment and furnish a report (s 39), with cost-recovery powers if the Secretary must complete the work (s 40). Part 7 confers on authorised officers (appointed under s 74) a comprehensive suite of information-gathering and entry powers exercisable for any “authorised purpose” listed in s 42. These include requiring answers to questions (s 45), entering premises (s 47), taking samples, conducting destructive testing (s 49(4)) and applying for search warrants (s 50).
Current sections
Direct links to the current provisions in Building Products (Safety) Act 2017.
manufacturer has the same meaning in relation to building products as it has in the ACL in relation to goods.
owner has the same meaning as in the Local Government Act 1993 and includes, in relation to a building, the owner of the building and the owner of the land on which the building is erected.
premises includes any land, building, structure, vessel, aircraft or vehicle and any place, whether built on or not.
representation means a claim, promise, publication, statement or other representation made in any way, including, for example, in advertising material or packaging or on a point-of-sale display.
Tribunal means the Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
unsafe—see section 4.
use, in relation to a building product—see section 7.
Note.
The Interpretation Act 1987 contains definitions and other provisions that affect the interpretation and application of this Act.
(2) Sections 2 (2) and 11 of the ACL apply to the provisions of this Act in the same way as they apply to the provisions of the ACL.
(3) Notes included in this Act do not form part of this Act.
s 3: Am 2022 No 59, Sch 3.7; 2024 No 53, Sch 3.4[1] [2].
Part 2
Key concepts
Part 2 Key concepts
Part 2 Key concepts
4
Safety risks and unsafe use of building products
4 Safety risks and unsafe use of building products
4 Safety risks and unsafe use of building products
(1) For the purposes of this Act, there is a safety risk posed by the use of a building product in a building if any occupants of the building are or will likely be at risk of death or serious injury arising from the use of the building product in the building.
(2) A risk can be considered to arise from the use of a building product in a building even if the risk will only arise in certain circumstances or if some other event occurs, such as fire.
(3) The regulations may prescribe other circumstances in which a safety risk is posed by the use of a building product in a building.
(4) For the purposes of this Act, the use of a building product in a building is unsafe if there is a safety risk posed by the use of the building product in the building.
5
Building product
5 Building product
5 Building product
(1) A building product means any product, material or other thing that is, or could be, used in a building.
(2) The following things are not building products for the purposes of this Act—
(a) asbestos or an asbestos product (including any loose-fill asbestos insulation within the meaning of Division 1A of Part 8 of the Home Building Act 1989),
(b) anything that the regulations declare is not a building product for the purposes of this Act.
6
Building
6 Building
6 Building
A building includes part of a building, and also includes any structure or part of a structure (including any temporary structure or part of a temporary structure within the meaning of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979), but does not include anything excluded from this definition by the regulations.
7
Use of building product
7 Use of building product
7 Use of building product
(1) A building product is used in a building if it is incorporated into, connected to, or otherwise installed in a building by means of building work.
(2) The use of a building product in a building has a corresponding meaning.
(3) A use of a building product in a building includes a misuse of a building product in a building.
8
Building work
8 Building work
8 Building work
(1) Building work means any work involved in, or involved in co-ordinating or supervising any work involved in—
(a) the construction of a building, or
(b) the making of alterations or additions to a building, or
(c) the repairing, renovation, decoration or protective treatment of a building.
(2) Work that relates to a building is taken to be building work if the work is residential building work under the Home Building Act 1989 or if it would be residential building work under that Act if the building were a dwelling.
(3) Work that relates to a dwelling is not building work if the work is not residential building work under the Home Building Act 1989, subject to subsection (4).
(4) Work that relates to a dwelling is not excluded from being building work under this Act by virtue of clause 2 (3) (a) of Schedule 1 to the Home Building Act 1989.
(5) The following work is not building work for the purposes of this Act—
(a) the supervision only of building work—
(i) by a person registered as an architect under the Architects Act 2003, or
(ii) by a person supervising owner-builder work (within the meaning of the Home Building Act 1989) for no reward or other consideration, or
(iii) by any other person, if all the building work is being done or supervised by the holder of a contractor licence under the Home Building Act 1989 authorising its holder to contract to do that work,
(b) demolition work,
(c) any work involved in the installation of any material that forms an upper layer or wearing surface of a floor (even if installed as a fixture) and that does not involve any structural changes to the floor, but not including work involved in the installation of floor tiles unless the regulations otherwise provide,
(d) any work that involves the installation or maintenance of any fixed apparatus such as a lift, an escalator, an inclinator or a garage door by means of which persons or things are raised or lowered or moved in some direction that is restricted by fixed guides,
(e) any work done by an individual in connection with a dwelling that is owned by the individual, unless the work is specialist work (within the meaning of the Home Building Act 1989) or work for which an owner-builder permit is required under that Act.
(6) This section has effect subject to any regulations under subsection (7).
(7) The regulations may do any of the following—
(a) declare any work to be building work for the purposes of this Act,
(b) declare any work not to be building work for the purposes of this Act.
(1) The Secretary may, by written notice published on the internet, prohibit the use of a specified building product in a building if the Secretary is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the use is unsafe.
(2) A prohibition imposed under this section is a building product use ban.
(3) A building product use ban may be imposed to apply in any of the following ways—
(a) it may apply to a specified use or uses or to all uses of a building product in a building,
(b) it may apply to any building or only to a specified class of buildings,
(c) it may apply to use by specified persons or classes of persons,
(d) it may apply subject to specified exceptions (for example, an exception that permits use of the building product only by a specified class of persons),
(e) it may be subject to conditions or unconditional,
(f) it may apply in any other way authorised by the regulations.
(4) A building product use ban that prohibits an unsafe use of a building product is not invalid merely because it also prohibits another use of the building product that is not an unsafe use if the application of the ban to that other use could not reasonably be avoided and the ban operates reasonably and appropriately in prohibiting the unsafe use.
10
Reasons to be given
10 Reasons to be given
10 Reasons to be given
(1) A building product use ban must specify the reasons why the Secretary has decided to impose the building product use ban.
(2) The requirement to give reasons applies to a decision to amend a building product use ban in the same way as it applies to a decision to impose a building product use ban.
11
Duration of ban
11 Duration of ban
11 Duration of ban
(1) A building product use ban comes into force on the day specified by the Secretary in the notice imposing the ban (being a date not earlier than the date that the notice is first published on the internet).
(2) A building product use ban remains in force until it is revoked by the Secretary.
12
Amendment or revocation of ban
12 Amendment or revocation of ban
12 Amendment or revocation of ban
(1) The Secretary may, by written notice published on the internet—
(a) amend a building product use ban, or
(b) revoke a building product use ban.
(2) An amendment or revocation takes effect on the date specified by the Secretary in the notice amending or revoking the ban (being a date not earlier than the date that the notice is first published on the internet).
13
Secretary may call for public submissions
13 Secretary may call for public submissions
13 Secretary may call for public submissions
(1) The Secretary may, before or after imposing a building product use ban, by written notice published on the internet, call for public submissions on the question of whether a building product use ban is warranted and the terms or proposed terms of the ban.
(2) If the Secretary calls for public submissions, the Secretary is to have regard to any submissions that are duly made to the Secretary by the date that is 28 days after the publication of the notice (or by a later date approved by the Secretary) in deciding whether to impose the building product use ban or, if the ban has already been imposed, to amend or revoke the ban.
(3) The Secretary is not required to give any person an opportunity to make submissions on a building product use ban or proposed building product use ban before it is imposed (despite any requirement of the rules of procedural fairness).
(4) This section applies to an amendment to a building product use ban in the same way as it applies to the imposition of a building product use ban.
14
Notice of imposition of building product use ban
14 Notice of imposition of building product use ban
14 Notice of imposition of building product use ban
(1) The Secretary must, if practicable, give notice of a building product use ban to the manufacturer of the building product concerned.
(2) If the building product is a foreign building product, notice may instead be given to an Australian importer or supplier of the building product.
(3) If practicable, notice is to be given at least 48 hours before the building product use ban is published on the internet.
(4) However, the Secretary is not required to give prior notice of a building product use ban if the Secretary believes on reasonable grounds that the nature of the safety risk posed by the use of the building product is so serious that, in the public interest, the publication of the building product use ban should not be delayed.
(5) The Secretary is not required to give notice to a person under this section if the Secretary is unable, after making reasonable inquiries, to ascertain the identity of, or to locate, the person to whom notice would otherwise be required to be given.
(6) The Secretary may also comply with a requirement to give prior notice of a building product use ban under this section by publishing notice of the Secretary’s intention to impose a building product use ban on the internet.
(7) This section applies to an amendment to a building product use ban in the same way as it applies to the imposition of a building product use ban.
15
Offence to contravene building product use ban
15 Offence to contravene building product use ban
15 Offence to contravene building product use ban
(1) A person must not cause a building product to be used in a building in contravention of a building product use ban.
Maximum penalty—
(a) in the case of a corporation—10,000 penalty units and, in the case of a continuing offence, a further penalty of 1,000 penalty units for each day the offence continues, or
(b) in any other case—2,000 penalty units or imprisonment for 2 years, or both, and, in the case of a continuing offence, a further penalty of 400 penalty units for each day the offence continues.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a person causes a building product to be used in a building—
(a) if the person does the building work by which the building product is used in the building, or
(b) in any other circumstances prescribed by the regulations.
(3) A person must not, in trade or commerce, represent that a building product is suitable for a use in a building if that use would contravene a building product use ban.
Maximum penalty—
(a) in the case of a corporation—10,000 penalty units and, in the case of a continuing offence, a further penalty of 1,000 penalty units for each day the offence continues, or
(b) in any other case—2,000 penalty units or imprisonment for 2 years, or both, and, in the case of a continuing offence, a further penalty of 400 penalty units for each day the offence continues.
(4) In proceedings in which a person is charged with an offence under this section, it is a defence to the prosecution of the offence if the person charged proves that the person had a reasonable excuse for the act or omission concerned.
(5) An offence against subsection (1) or (3) is an executive liability offence.
Part 4
Identification and rectification of affected buildings
Part 4 Identification and rectification of affected buildings
Part 4 Identification and rectification of affected buildings
16
Definitions
16 Definitions
16 Definitions
In this Part—
affected building—see section 17.
affected building notice means a notice under section 18.
general building safety notice means a notice under section 19.
made safe—see section 26.
relevant enforcement authority in relation to a building means—
(b) in the case of a building that is not a building within the meaning of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, the council for the area in which the building is located.
s 16: Am 2017 No 69, Sch 2.1 [1].
17
Affected building
17 Affected building
17 Affected building
(1) For the purposes of this Part, a building is an affected building if a building product the subject of a building product use ban has been used in the building for a use that is prohibited by the building product use ban.
(2) It does not matter that the building product was used in the building before the building product use ban was in force.
18
Identification and notification of particular affected buildings
18 Identification and notification of particular affected buildings
18 Identification and notification of particular affected buildings
(1) If the Secretary is satisfied, on reasonable grounds, that a particular building is or may be an affected building, the Secretary may issue a notice under this section (an affected building notice).
(2) An affected building notice is to include the following information—
(a) the location of the building that is or may be an affected building,
(b) particulars of the relevant building product use ban,
(c) particulars of the safety risk posed by the use of the building product to which the building product use ban applies.
(3) The Secretary is to give a copy of an affected building notice to the following—
(a) the owner or owners of the building,
(b) the occupier or occupiers of the building,
(c) the council for the area in which the building is located,
(d) a relevant enforcement authority for the building (if the council is not a relevant enforcement authority for the building),
(e) the Commissioner of Fire and Rescue NSW, if the safety risk posed by the use of the building product relates to a risk of fire.
(4) If the building is the subject of a strata scheme under the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015, a requirement to give notice to the owner or owners of the building is satisfied if notice is given to the owners corporation constituted under that Act.
(5) The Secretary may publish an affected building notice on the internet, but only if the Secretary considers that it is in the public interest to do so.
19
General warning about class of buildings that may be affected buildings
19 General warning about class of buildings that may be affected buildings
19 General warning about class of buildings that may be affected buildings
(1) The Secretary may issue a notice under this section (a general building safety notice) if the Secretary is satisfied, on reasonable grounds, that a class of buildings may be affected buildings.
(2) A general building safety notice is a notice that identifies the safety risk posed by the use of a building product that is the subject of a building product use ban in the class of buildings concerned.
(3) A general building safety notice is to include the following information—
(a) particulars of the class of buildings that may be affected buildings, to the extent known to the Secretary,
(b) particulars of the relevant building product use ban,
(c) particulars of the safety risk posed by the use of the building product to which the building product use ban applies.
(4) A general building safety notice may be given—
(a) to all councils or to any councils that the Secretary considers appropriate, and
(b) to the Commissioner of Fire and Rescue NSW, if the safety risk posed by the use of the building product relates to a risk of fire.
(5) The Secretary may publish a general building safety notice on the internet, but only if the Secretary considers that it is in the public interest to do so.
20
Power of relevant enforcement authority to order rectification
20 Power of relevant enforcement authority to order rectification
20 Power of relevant enforcement authority to order rectification
(1) A relevant enforcement authority may make an order under this section (a building product rectification order) in respect of a building.
(2) A building product rectification order is an order that requires the owner of a building to do such things as are necessary for either or both of the following purposes—
(a) to eliminate or minimise a safety risk posed by the use in the building of a building product to which a building product use ban applies,
(b) to remediate or restore the building following the elimination or minimisation of the safety risk.
(3) A building product rectification order may be made only if the relevant enforcement authority is satisfied, on reasonable grounds, that the building is an affected building.
(4) For the purposes of any proceedings relating to a building product rectification order or proposed building product rectification order, an affected building notice or a general building safety notice is evidence that the use in a building of the building product specified in the notice poses a safety risk of a kind specified by the Secretary in that notice.
(5) However, a relevant enforcement authority may make a building product rectification order in respect of a building whether or not the relevant enforcement authority has received an affected building notice or general building safety notice in respect of the building.
Note.
For example, a council may make a building product rectification order if, as a result of its own investigations, it identifies an affected building.
21
Statutory provisions applicable to building product rectification order
21 Statutory provisions applicable to building product rectification order
21 Statutory provisions applicable to building product rectification order
(1) The Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, and any regulations under that Act, apply to a building product rectification order as if the order were a development control order, except as provided by subsection (3).
(4) The regulations may modify the application of any of the statutory provisions referred to in subsection (1) or (3) to or in respect of a building product rectification order.
(5) The Minister is not to recommend the making of a regulation that modifies the operation of any of those statutory provisions in respect of a building product rectification order except with the concurrence of the Minister administering the relevant statutory provisions concerned.
s 21: Am 2017 No 69, Sch 2.1 [2] [3].
22
Appeals concerning orders
22 Appeals concerning orders
22 Appeals concerning orders
(1) A council must give notice to the Secretary of an appeal against a building product rectification order made by the council.
(2) The Secretary is entitled to appear and be heard on an appeal against a building product rectification order.
(3) The Land and Environment Court may, on hearing an appeal against a building product rectification order, order the Secretary to amend or revoke an affected building notice or a general building safety notice (without limiting any other powers the Court has on an appeal).
23
Council to report to Secretary on response
23 Council to report to Secretary on response
23 Council to report to Secretary on response
(1) The Secretary may, by notice in writing served on a council that has been given an affected building notice, require the council to provide a report to the Secretary about the steps it has taken in relation to the affected building notice.
(2) The report is to indicate or include the following—
(a) whether the council has made a building product rectification order in respect of the building the subject of the affected building notice,
(b) whether the order has been complied with or the progress that has been made towards compliance with the order,
(c) any other steps that are being taken by the council to ensure that the building the subject of the affected building notice is made safe,
(d) such other matters as may be prescribed by the regulations.
(3) If the council has not made a building product rectification order in respect of the building the subject of the affected building notice, the report is to set out the council’s reasons for not making the order.
(4) The report is to be provided to the Secretary within the period specified by the Secretary in the notice (being a period of not less than 30 days after the notice is served).
(5) The Secretary may require more than one report to be provided under this section in respect of a building.
(6) The Secretary may publish a report provided by the council under this section on the internet.
(7) The Secretary may withhold from publication any information in the report that identifies the particular building that is the subject of the affected building notice.
24
Amendment or revocation of notices
24 Amendment or revocation of notices
24 Amendment or revocation of notices
(1) The Secretary may amend or revoke an affected building notice or a general building safety notice by issuing a further notice.
(2) The Secretary is to give notice of the amendment or revocation of an affected building notice to each of the following—
(a) the owner or owners of the building,
(b) the occupier or occupiers of the building,
(c) the council for the area in which the building is located,
(d) any relevant enforcement authority for the building to whom the affected building notice was given,
(e) the Commissioner of Fire and Rescue NSW, if the affected building notice was given to the Commissioner.
(3) The Secretary is to give notice of the amendment or revocation of a general building safety notice to each of the following—
(a) any council that was given the general building safety notice,
(b) the Commissioner of Fire and Rescue NSW, if the general building safety notice was given to the Commissioner.
(4) An affected building notice or general building safety notice ceases to be in force if it is revoked.
25
Revocation of affected building notice
25 Revocation of affected building notice
25 Revocation of affected building notice
(1) The Secretary must revoke an affected building notice if the Secretary is satisfied that—
(a) the building concerned has been made safe, or
(b) the building is not an affected building.
(2) The Secretary may revoke an affected building notice on the application of an owner of the building or on the Secretary’s own initiative.
26
When a building is “made safe”
26 When a building is “made safe”
26 When a building is “made safe”
For the purposes of this Part, a building is made safe if the safety risk that is posed by the use of a building product to which a building product use ban applies, as identified by the Secretary in an affected building notice, is eliminated or, if it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate the safety risk, is minimised as far as practicable.
Part 5
Building product undertakings
Part 5 Building product undertakings
Part 5 Building product undertakings
27
Secretary may accept undertakings
27 Secretary may accept undertakings
27 Secretary may accept undertakings
(1) The Secretary may accept a written undertaking (a building product undertaking) given by a person if the person has contravened, or the Secretary suspects that the person has contravened or is likely to contravene, a requirement imposed by or under this Act.
(2) The giving of an undertaking does not constitute an admission of guilt by the person giving it in relation to the contravention, suspected contravention or likely contravention to which the undertaking relates.
28
When building product undertaking takes effect
28 When building product undertaking takes effect
28 When building product undertaking takes effect
A building product undertaking takes effect and becomes enforceable when notice of the Secretary’s decision to accept the undertaking is given to the person who made the undertaking or on a later date specified by the Secretary.
29
Contravention of building product undertaking
29 Contravention of building product undertaking
29 Contravention of building product undertaking
(1) A person must not contravene a building product undertaking given by the person that is in effect.
Maximum penalty—
(a) in the case of a corporation—10,000 penalty units and, in the case of a continuing offence, a further penalty of 1,000 penalty units for each day the offence continues, or
(b) in any other case—2,000 penalty units and, in the case of a continuing offence, a further penalty of 400 penalty units for each day the offence continues.
(2) An offence against subsection (1) is an executive liability offence.
30
Order requiring compliance with building product undertaking
30 Order requiring compliance with building product undertaking
30 Order requiring compliance with building product undertaking
(1) The Secretary may apply to the Supreme Court for an order if a person contravenes a building product undertaking.
(2) If the Court is satisfied that the person who gave the building product undertaking has contravened the undertaking, the Court may make one or both of the following orders—
(a) an order directing the person to comply with the undertaking,
(b) an order discharging or varying the undertaking.
(3) In addition to the orders referred to in subsection (2), the Court may make any other order that the Court considers appropriate in the circumstances, including orders directing the person to pay to the State—
(a) the costs of the proceedings, and
(b) the reasonable costs of the Secretary in monitoring compliance with the building product undertaking in the future.
(4) Nothing in this section affects the liability for an offence of a person who contravenes a building product undertaking.
31
Withdrawal or variation of building product undertaking
31 Withdrawal or variation of building product undertaking
31 Withdrawal or variation of building product undertaking
(1) A person who gives a building product undertaking may, at any time, with the written agreement of the Secretary—
(a) withdraw the undertaking, or
(b) vary the undertaking.
(2) The Secretary may, at any time—
(a) withdraw the Secretary’s acceptance of a building product undertaking, by notice in writing served on the person who gave the undertaking, or
(b) vary a building product undertaking (but only with the written agreement of the person who gave the undertaking).
(3) The provisions of a building product undertaking cannot be varied to provide for a different alleged contravention.
(4) A building product undertaking ceases to have effect if—
(a) it is withdrawn by the person who made it (in accordance with this section), or
(b) acceptance of the undertaking is withdrawn by the Secretary.
32
Proceedings for alleged contravention
32 Proceedings for alleged contravention
32 Proceedings for alleged contravention
(1) Subject to this section, no proceedings for a contravention or alleged contravention of this Act may be brought against a person if a building product undertaking is in effect in relation to that contravention.
(2) No proceedings may be brought for a contravention or alleged contravention of this Act against a person who has made a building product undertaking in relation to that contravention and has completely discharged the building product undertaking.
(3) The Secretary may accept a building product undertaking in relation to a contravention or alleged contravention before proceedings in relation to that contravention have been finalised.
(4) If the Secretary accepts a building product undertaking before the proceedings are finalised, the Secretary must take all reasonable steps to have the proceedings discontinued as soon as possible.
33
Register of undertakings
33 Register of undertakings
33 Register of undertakings
(1) The Secretary is to maintain a register that includes the following in relation to each building product undertaking accepted under this Part—
(a) a copy of the undertaking,
(b) a copy of each variation of the undertaking,
(c) the name and address of the person who gave the undertaking,
(d) the date of the undertaking.
(2) The register is to be amended to remove information relating to undertakings that have been withdrawn.
(3) The register is to be made available, free of charge, on a NSW Government website.
(4) (Repealed)
s 33: Am 2021 No 23, Sch 1.4.
Part 6
Investigation and assessment powers of Secretary
Part 6 Investigation and assessment powers of Secretary
Part 6 Investigation and assessment powers of Secretary
Division 1
Building product investigations
Division 1 Building product investigations
Division 1 Building product investigations
34
Building product investigations
34 Building product investigations
34 Building product investigations
(1) The Secretary may authorise an investigation for any or all of the following purposes—
(a) to ascertain whether a use of a building product in a building is unsafe,
(b) to ascertain the location of any building in which a building product has been used in a way that is or may be unsafe.
(2) An investigation authorised under this section is a building product investigation.
Note.
Authorised officers may exercise their information gathering powers under Part 7 for the purposes of a building product investigation.
35
Consultation
35 Consultation
35 Consultation
(1) The Secretary must, if practicable, give the manufacturer of the building product that is the subject of the building product investigation notice of the building product investigation and an opportunity to make submissions in relation to the building product investigation.
(2) If the building product is a foreign building product, notice may be given to an Australian importer or supplier of the building product instead of the manufacturer.
(3) The Secretary is taken to comply with the requirement to give notice under this section if the Secretary publishes on the internet a notice that—
(a) advises of the Secretary’s intention to conduct the building product investigation, and
(b) invites interested persons to make submissions in relation to the investigation.
36
Publication and use of results of building product investigation
36 Publication and use of results of building product investigation
36 Publication and use of results of building product investigation
(1) The Secretary may impose or amend a building product use ban, as the Secretary considers appropriate, to reflect the results of a building product investigation.
(2) The Secretary may publish notice of the results of a building product investigation.
(3) The Secretary must publish on the internet notice of the results of a building product investigation if the Secretary has published notice of the Secretary’s intention to conduct the building product investigation.
(4) If the Secretary publishes the results of a building product investigation, the Secretary may, if the Secretary considers it appropriate—
(a) identify any building or class of buildings in which the building product has been used, and
(b) identify how the building product has been used in a building or class of buildings.
37
Other powers of investigation not limited
37 Other powers of investigation not limited
37 Other powers of investigation not limited
This Division does not limit the functions of an authorised officer under Part 7.
Division 2
Product assessments
Division 2 Product assessments
Division 2 Product assessments
38
Definitions
38 Definitions
38 Definitions
In this Division—
product assessment means an assessment that is conducted for the purpose of assessing whether any reasonably foreseeable use of a building product in a building is unsafe.
product assessment report means a report about a product assessment.
39
Secretary may require product assessment
39 Secretary may require product assessment
39 Secretary may require product assessment
(1) The Secretary may, by order in writing served on a person, require the person—
(a) to conduct a product assessment in relation to a building product, and
(b) to provide to the Secretary a product assessment report about that product assessment.
(2) The Secretary may require a person to conduct a product assessment in relation to a building product only if—
(a) the Secretary has reasonable grounds to suspect that a foreseeable use of the building product is unsafe, and
(b) the person required to conduct the product assessment is the manufacturer or a supplier of the building product, and
(c) the Secretary is satisfied that it is reasonable in the circumstances to require the manufacturer or supplier concerned to conduct the product assessment.
(3) The order is to specify the requirements of the product assessment and product assessment report, including the time frame in which the product assessment is to be conducted and the product assessment report provided.
(4) The time frame must be reasonable having regard to the requirements of the product assessment.
(5) Without limiting subsection (3), the requirements of the product assessment may specify the following—
(a) the tests or inspections that must be conducted for the purposes of the product assessment,
(b) the qualifications or experience required in relation to the persons who conduct those tests or inspections.
(6) A product assessment may be required whether or not a building product investigation into the building product is being conducted.
(7) A person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a requirement made of the person under this section is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty—100 penalty units.
(8) A person who includes in any product assessment report provided to the Secretary any information that the person knows is false or misleading in a material particular is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty—100 penalty units.
40
Taking of required actions and recovery of costs
40 Taking of required actions and recovery of costs
40 Taking of required actions and recovery of costs
(1) If a person required to conduct a product assessment (the liable person) fails to conduct that product assessment, or to provide a product assessment report, to the satisfaction of the Secretary, the Secretary may take any action that is reasonably necessary to conduct or complete that product assessment.
(2) The Secretary may, by notice in writing served on the liable person, require the person to pay a fee for action taken under this section.
(3) The fee is to be no more than is reasonable to cover the costs and expenses incurred in connection with the action.
(4) Costs and expenses incurred include costs and expenses incurred by or on behalf of any government agency.
(5) The fee is recoverable by the Secretary as a debt payable by the liable person in any court of competent jurisdiction.
(6) This section does not prevent the taking of proceedings for an offence of contravening a requirement to conduct, or report on, a product assessment.
41
Publication and use of product assessment report
41 Publication and use of product assessment report
41 Publication and use of product assessment report
(1) The Secretary may, having regard to a product assessment report provided under this Division, impose or amend a building product use ban as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(2) The Secretary may publish a product assessment report provided under this Division.
(3) A product assessment report is admissible in any legal proceedings under this Act and in any legal proceedings in connection with a building product rectification order.
Part 7
Investigation powers of authorised officers
Part 7 Investigation powers of authorised officers
Part 7 Investigation powers of authorised officers
42
Purposes for which functions under Part may be exercised
42 Purposes for which functions under Part may be exercised
42 Purposes for which functions under Part may be exercised
(1) An authorised officer may exercise the functions conferred by this Part for any of the following purposes—
(a) to assess whether a reasonably foreseeable use of a building product in a building is unsafe,
(b) to ascertain the location of any buildings in which a building product that is the subject of a building product use ban has been used for a use that is prohibited by the building product use ban,
(c) for the purposes of a building product investigation or a product assessment,
(d) for the purpose of investigating and monitoring compliance with the requirements imposed by or under this Act,
(e) for the purpose of obtaining information or records for purposes connected with the administration of this Act,
(f) for the purpose of administering or executing this Act (including any instrument made under this Act).
(2) In this Part, a reference to an authorised purpose is a reference to any purpose referred to in subsection (1).
43
Exercise in conjunction with other powers
43 Exercise in conjunction with other powers
43 Exercise in conjunction with other powers
A power conferred by this Division may be exercised whether or not a power of entry under Division 3 is being exercised.
44
Powers of authorised officers to require information and documents
44 Powers of authorised officers to require information and documents
44 Powers of authorised officers to require information and documents
(1) An authorised officer may, by notice in writing given to a person, require the person to furnish to the officer such information or documents (or both) as the officer may require for an authorised purpose.
(2) A notice under this Division must specify the manner in which information or documents are required to be furnished and a reasonable time by which the information or documents are required to be furnished.
(3) A notice under this Division may only require a person to furnish existing documents that are in the person’s possession or that are within the person’s power to obtain lawfully.
(4) The person to whom any document is furnished under this Division may take copies of it.
(5) If any document required to be furnished under this Division is in electronic, mechanical or other form, the notice requires the record to be furnished in written form, unless the notice otherwise provides.
45
Power of authorised officers to require answers
45 Power of authorised officers to require answers
45 Power of authorised officers to require answers
(1) An authorised officer may require a person whom the authorised officer suspects on reasonable grounds to have knowledge of matters in respect of which information is reasonably required for an authorised purpose to answer questions in relation to those matters.
(2) An authorised officer may, by notice in writing, require a corporation to nominate, in writing within the time specified in the notice, a director or officer of the corporation to be the corporation’s representative for the purpose of answering questions under this section.
(3) Answers given by a person nominated under subsection (2) bind the corporation.
(4) An authorised officer may, by notice in writing, require a person to attend at a specified place and time to answer questions under this section if attendance at that place is reasonably required in order that the questions can be properly put and answered.
(5) The place and time at which a person may be required to attend under subsection (4) is to be—
(a) a place and time nominated by the person, or
(b) if the place and time nominated is not reasonable in the circumstances or a place and time is not nominated by the person, a place and time nominated by the authorised officer that is reasonable in the circumstances.
46
Recording of evidence
46 Recording of evidence
46 Recording of evidence
(1) An authorised officer may cause any questions and answers to questions given under this Division to be recorded if the officer has informed the person who is to be questioned that the recording is to be made.
(2) A recording may be made using sound recording apparatus or audio visual apparatus, or any other method determined by the authorised officer.
(3) A copy of any such recording must be provided by the authorised officer to the person who is questioned as soon as practicable after it is made.
(4) A recording may be made under this section despite the provisions of any other law.
Division 3
Power to enter premises
Division 3 Power to enter premises
Division 3 Power to enter premises
47
Powers of authorised officers to enter premises
47 Powers of authorised officers to enter premises
47 Powers of authorised officers to enter premises
(1) An authorised officer may enter any premises—
(a) at any reasonable time, or
(b) at any time, if the authorised officer reasonably believes it is necessary to do so as a matter of urgency.
(2) A power to enter premises conferred by this Act authorises entry by foot or vehicle or by any other means.
(3) Entry to any premises may be effected with or without the authority of a search warrant, subject to subsection (4).
(4) This section does not empower an authorised officer to enter any part of premises used only for residential purposes except with the permission of the occupier or with the authority of a search warrant.
48
Power to require occupier to provide assistance
48 Power to require occupier to provide assistance
48 Power to require occupier to provide assistance
An authorised officer proposing to exercise a power of entry under this Division may, by notice in writing given to the owner or occupier of the premises, require the owner or occupier to provide such reasonable assistance and facilities as are specified in the notice within a specified time and in a specified manner.
Division 4
Functions that can be exercised on premises
Division 4 Functions that can be exercised on premises
Division 4 Functions that can be exercised on premises
49
Powers that can be exercised on premises
49 Powers that can be exercised on premises
49 Powers that can be exercised on premises
(1) An authorised officer may, at any premises lawfully entered, do anything that in the opinion of the authorised officer is necessary to be done for an authorised purpose, including (but not limited to) the things specified in subsection (2).
(2) An authorised officer may do any or all of the following—
(a) examine and inspect any thing,
(b) take and remove samples of a thing,
(c) make any examinations, inquiries or tests that the authorised officer considers necessary,
(d) take any photographs, films or other recordings that the authorised officer considers necessary,
(e) require documents to be produced for inspection,
(f) examine and inspect any documents,
(g) copy any documents,
(h) do anything else authorised by or under this Act.
(3) The power to examine and inspect any thing includes a power to use reasonable force to break open or otherwise access a container or other thing being used, or suspected of being used, to hold or contain another thing.
(4) The power to test a thing includes a power to destructively test a thing or a sample of a thing, if that is a reasonable test in the circumstances.
(5) The power to do a thing under this section includes a power to arrange for that thing to be done (whether at the premises or elsewhere).
(6) A power to do something under this section in relation to a thing may be exercised without the consent of the owner of the thing.
50
Search warrants
50 Search warrants
50 Search warrants
(1) An authorised officer may apply to an eligible issuing officer for the issue of a search warrant if the authorised officer believes on reasonable grounds that—
(a) a requirement imposed by or under this Act is being or has been contravened at any premises, or
(b) entry to the premises is necessary to enable the authorised officer to exercise functions for an authorised purpose.
(2) An eligible issuing officer to whom such an application is made may, if satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for doing so, issue a search warrant authorising an authorised officer named in the warrant to do any of the following—
(a) to enter the premises specified in the warrant,
(b) to exercise any function of an authorised officer under this Act.
(1) An authorised officer may require the owner or occupier of premises, or any person in or on premises (other than a public place), to provide any reasonable assistance that the authorised officer specifies for the purposes of exercising the authorised officer’s functions under this Division in relation to those premises.
(2) The requirement may be made in the form of a direction that is given orally to the person or by notice in writing served on the person.
52
Care to be taken
52 Care to be taken
52 Care to be taken
(1) In the exercise of a power of entering or searching premises under this Division, or doing anything else on premises under this Act, an authorised officer must do as little damage as possible.
(2) In particular, an authorised officer must exercise the functions conferred by this Division in a way that, as far as is reasonably practicable, avoids compromising the integrity of any building or building work in relation to which the functions are exercised.
(3) In subsection (2), compromising the integrity of a building or building work includes damaging the building or building work or exposing the building or building work to damage or deterioration.
53
Compensation
53 Compensation
53 Compensation
(1) The Secretary must compensate all interested parties for damage caused by an authorised officer in exercising a power to enter premises, or a power to break open or otherwise access a thing for the purposes of examination or inspection, but not any damage caused by the exercise of any other power.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the occupier obstructed or hindered the authorised officer in the exercise of the power concerned.
Division 5
General
Division 5 General
Division 5 General
54
Offence of failing to comply with requirement made by authorised officer
54 Offence of failing to comply with requirement made by authorised officer
54 Offence of failing to comply with requirement made by authorised officer
A person who fails to comply with a requirement made of the person by an authorised officer exercising a power conferred by this Part is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty—100 penalty units.
55
Offence of furnishing false or misleading information
55 Offence of furnishing false or misleading information
55 Offence of furnishing false or misleading information
A person who furnishes any information, or does any other thing in purported compliance with a requirement under this Part, knowing that it is false or misleading in a material particular is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty—100 penalty units.
56
Defence to contravention
56 Defence to contravention
56 Defence to contravention
In proceedings in which a person is charged with an offence of failing to comply with a requirement made of the person by an authorised officer exercising a function conferred by this Part, it is a defence to the prosecution of the offence if the person charged proves that the person had a reasonable excuse for the failure concerned.
57
Warning to be given
57 Warning to be given
57 Warning to be given
A person is not guilty of an offence of failing to comply with a requirement under this Part to furnish information or documents or to answer a question unless the person was warned on that occasion that a failure to comply is an offence.
58
Revocation or variation of notices
58 Revocation or variation of notices
58 Revocation or variation of notices
(1) A notice given under this Part may be revoked or varied by a subsequent notice or notices.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), a notice may be varied by extending the time for complying with the notice.
(3) A notice may be revoked or varied by the Secretary or by any authorised officer.
Part 8
Offences and other proceedings
Part 8 Offences and other proceedings
Part 8 Offences and other proceedings
59
Liability of directors etc for corporate offences—executive liability
59 Liability of directors etc for corporate offences—executive liability
59 Liability of directors etc for corporate offences—executive liability
(1) A person commits an offence against this section if—
(a) a corporation commits an executive liability offence, and
(b) the person is—
(i) a director of the corporation, or
(ii) an individual who is involved in the management of the corporation and who is in a position to influence the conduct of the corporation in relation to the commission of the executive liability offence, and
(c) the person—
(i) knows or ought reasonably to know that the executive liability offence (or an offence of the same type) would be or is being committed, and
(ii) fails to take all reasonable steps to prevent or stop the commission of that offence.
Maximum penalty—200 penalty units.
(2) For the purposes of this section, an executive liability offence is an offence against a provision of this Act that is designated by a provision of this Act to be an executive liability offence.
(3) The prosecution bears the legal burden of proving the elements of the offence against this section.
(4) The offence against this section can only be prosecuted by a person who can bring a prosecution for the executive liability offence.
(5) This section does not affect the liability of the corporation for the executive liability offence, and applies whether or not the corporation is prosecuted for, or convicted of, the executive liability offence.
(6) This section does not affect the application of any other law relating to the criminal liability of any persons (whether or not directors or other managers of the corporation) who are accessories to the commission of the executive liability offence or are otherwise concerned in, or party to, the commission of the executive liability offence.
(7) In this section—
reasonable steps, in relation to the commission of an executive liability offence, includes, but is not limited to, such action (if any) of the following kinds as is reasonable in all the circumstances—
(a) action towards—
(i) assessing the corporation’s compliance with the provision creating the executive liability offence, and
(ii) ensuring that the corporation arranged regular professional assessments of its compliance with the provision,
(b) action towards ensuring that the corporation’s employees, agents and contractors are provided with information, training, instruction and supervision appropriate to them to enable them to comply with the provision creating the executive liability offence so far as the provision is relevant to them,
(c) action towards ensuring that—
(i) the plant, equipment and other resources, and
(ii) the structures, work systems and other processes,
relevant to compliance with the provision creating the executive liability offence are appropriate in all the circumstances,
(d) action towards creating and maintaining a corporate culture that does not direct, encourage, tolerate or lead to non-compliance with the provision creating the executive liability offence.
60
Liability of directors etc for offences by corporation as an accessory
60 Liability of directors etc for offences by corporation as an accessory
60 Liability of directors etc for offences by corporation as an accessory
(1) For the purposes of this section, a corporate offence is an offence against this Act or the regulations that is capable of being committed by a corporation, whether or not it is an executive liability offence.
(2) A person commits an offence against this section if—
(a) a corporation commits a corporate offence, and
(b) the person is—
(i) a director of the corporation, or
(ii) an individual who is involved in the management of the corporation and who is in a position to influence the conduct of the corporation in relation to the commission of the corporate offence, and
(c) the person—
(i) aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission of the corporate offence, or
(ii) induces, whether by threats or promises or otherwise, the commission of the corporate offence, or
(iii) conspires with others to effect the commission of the corporate offence, or
(iv) is in any other way, whether by act or omission, knowingly concerned in, or party to, the commission of the corporate offence.
Maximum penalty—The maximum penalty for the corporate offence if committed by an individual.
(3) The prosecution bears the legal burden of proving the elements of the offence against this section.
(4) The offence against this section can only be prosecuted by a person who can bring a prosecution for the corporate offence.
(5) This section does not affect the liability of the corporation for the corporate offence, and applies whether or not the corporation is prosecuted for, or convicted of, the corporate offence.
(6) This section does not affect the application of any other law relating to the criminal liability of any persons (whether or not directors or other managers of the corporation) who are concerned in, or party to, the commission of the corporate offence.
61
Offence by corporation—general liability of directors
61 Offence by corporation—general liability of directors
61 Offence by corporation—general liability of directors
(1) If a corporation contravenes any provision of this Act or the regulations, each person who is a director of the corporation or who is concerned in its management is to be taken to have contravened the same provision if the person knowingly authorised or permitted the contravention.
(2) A person may be proceeded against and convicted under a provision pursuant to subsection (1) whether or not the corporation has been proceeded against or convicted under that provision.
62
Continuing offences
62 Continuing offences
62 Continuing offences
(1) A person who is guilty of an offence because the person contravenes a requirement made by or under this Act or the regulations (whether the requirement is imposed by a notice or otherwise) to do or cease to do something (whether or not within a specified period or before a particular time)—
(a) continues, until the requirement is complied with and despite the fact that any specified period has expired or time has passed, to be liable to comply with the requirement, and
(b) is guilty of a continuing offence for each day the contravention continues.
(2) This section does not apply to an offence if the relevant provision of this Act or the regulations does not provide for a penalty for a continuing offence.
(3) This section does not apply to the extent that a requirement of a notice is revoked.
63
Continuing effect of requirements
63 Continuing effect of requirements
63 Continuing effect of requirements
(1) A requirement imposed by or under this Act that specifies a time by which, or a period within which, the requirement must be complied with continues to have effect until the requirement is complied with even though the time has passed or the period has expired.
(2) A requirement that does not specify a time by which, or period within which, the requirement must be complied with continues to have effect until the requirement is complied with.
(3) This section does not apply to the extent that any requirement imposed by or under this Act is revoked.
(4) Nothing in this section affects the powers of the Secretary with respect to the enforcement of any requirement imposed by or under this Act.
64
Proof of reasonable excuse
64 Proof of reasonable excuse
64 Proof of reasonable excuse
The onus of proof of reasonable excuse in any proceedings for an offence against this Act or the regulations lies on the person charged with the offence.
65
Penalty notices
65 Penalty notices
65 Penalty notices
(1) An authorised officer may issue a penalty notice to a person if it appears to the officer that the person has committed a penalty notice offence.
(2) A penalty notice offence is an offence against this Act or the regulations that is prescribed by the regulations as a penalty notice offence.
(3) The Fines Act 1996 applies to a penalty notice issued under this section.
Note.
The Fines Act 1996 provides that, if a person issued with a penalty notice does not wish to have the matter determined by a court, the person may pay the amount specified in the notice and is not liable to any further proceedings for the alleged offence.
(4) The amount payable under a penalty notice issued under this section is the amount prescribed for the alleged offence by the regulations (not exceeding the maximum amount of penalty that could be imposed for the offence by a court).
(5) This section does not limit the operation of any other provision of, or made under, this or any other Act relating to proceedings that may be taken in respect of offences.
66
Proceedings for offences
66 Proceedings for offences
66 Proceedings for offences
(1) Proceedings for an offence against this Act or the regulations may be taken and prosecuted only by the Secretary or, in the name of the Secretary, by a person acting with the authority of the Secretary.
(2) Proceedings for an offence against this Act or the regulations may be dealt with—
(a) summarily before the Local Court, or
(b) summarily before the District Court in its summary jurisdiction.
(3) If proceedings are brought in the Local Court, the maximum monetary penalty that the Local Court may impose for the offence is 100 penalty units, despite any higher maximum monetary penalty provided in respect of the offence.
(4) In proceedings for an offence against this Act or the regulations, an authority to prosecute purporting to have been signed by the Secretary is evidence of that authority without proof of the signature of the Secretary.
67
Time within which offence proceedings may be commenced
67 Time within which offence proceedings may be commenced
67 Time within which offence proceedings may be commenced
(1) Proceedings for an offence against this Act or the regulations may be commenced within but not later than 2 years after the date on which the offence is alleged to have been committed.
(2) Proceedings for an offence against this Act or the regulations may, with leave of the court, be commenced after the end of the period referred to in subsection (1) if they are commenced within but not later than 2 years after the date on which evidence of the alleged offence first came to the attention of an authorised officer.
(3) If subsection (2) is relied on for the purpose of commencing proceedings for an offence, the court attendance notice or application must contain particulars of the date on which evidence of the alleged offence first came to the attention of an authorised officer and need not contain particulars of the date on which the offence was committed. The date on which evidence first came to the attention of an authorised officer is the date specified in the court attendance notice or application, unless the contrary is established.
evidence of an offence means evidence of any act or omission constituting the offence.
68
Enforcement provisions of ACL that extend to building product offences
68 Enforcement provisions of ACL that extend to building product offences
68 Enforcement provisions of ACL that extend to building product offences
(1) The following provisions of the ACL apply to an offence against Part 3 of this Act in the same way as they apply to a contravention of, or an offence against, a provision of Chapter 4 of the ACL—
(a) section 207 (Reasonable mistake of fact),
(b) section 208 (Act or default of another person etc),
(c) section 209 (Publication of advertisements in the ordinary course of business).
(2) The following provisions of the ACL apply to an offence against Part 3 of this Act in the same way as they apply to a contravention of, or an offence against, a provision of Chapter 4 of the ACL—
(a) section 214 (Penalties for contraventions of the same nature etc),
(b) section 215 (Penalties for previous contraventions of the same nature etc).
(3) This section is subject to the regulations.
69
Compensation orders by court on conviction of person
69 Compensation orders by court on conviction of person
69 Compensation orders by court on conviction of person
(1) If a person is convicted by a court of an offence against this Act or the regulations and the court is satisfied that another person has suffered loss or damage as a result of the conduct of the convicted person, the court may, in addition to any penalty it may impose in respect of the offence, order the convicted person to compensate the other person for the loss or damage.
(2) The compensation that the Local Court may order to be paid under this section is not to exceed the jurisdictional limit of the Local Court when sitting in its General Division within the meaning of the Local Court Act 2007.
(3) The regulations may make further provision for the awarding of compensation under this section, including by limiting the types of loss or damage in respect of which compensation may be awarded.
(4) In this section, a reference to the conviction of a person includes a reference to the making of an order in respect of a person under section 10 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999.
70
Supreme Court injunctions
70 Supreme Court injunctions
70 Supreme Court injunctions
(1) The Supreme Court may grant an injunction in such terms as the Court determines to be appropriate if satisfied that a person has engaged, or is proposing to engage, in conduct that constitutes, or would constitute—
(a) a contravention of a provision of this Act, or
(b) attempting to contravene such a provision, or
(c) aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring a person to contravene such a provision, or
(d) inducing, or attempting to induce, whether by threats or promises or otherwise, a person to contravene such a provision, or
(e) being in any way, directly or indirectly, knowingly concerned in, or party to, the contravention by a person of such a provision, or
(f) conspiring with others to contravene such a provision.
(2) The Supreme Court may grant an injunction under this section only on the application of the Secretary made with the consent of the Minister.
(3) The power of the Supreme Court to grant an injunction restraining a person from engaging in conduct may be exercised—
(a) whether or not it appears to the Court that the person intends to engage again, or to continue to engage, in conduct of that kind, and
(b) whether or not the person has previously engaged in conduct of that kind, and
(c) whether or not there is an imminent danger of substantial damage to any person if the first-mentioned person engages in conduct of that kind.
(4) The power of the Supreme Court to grant an injunction requiring a person to do an act or thing may be exercised—
(a) whether or not it appears to the Court that the person intends to fail again, or to continue to fail, to do that act or thing, and
(b) whether or not the person has previously failed to do that act or thing, and
(c) whether or not there is an imminent danger of substantial damage to any person if the first-mentioned person fails to do that act or thing.
(5) An injunction may be granted under this section as an interim injunction without an undertaking being required as to damages or costs or may be granted as a permanent injunction.
71
Evidence
71 Evidence
71 Evidence
Sections 80–83 of the Fair Trading Act 1987 apply to proceedings under this Act in the same way as they apply to proceedings under that Act.
72
Evidentiary certificates
72 Evidentiary certificates
72 Evidentiary certificates
(1) A certificate that is issued by the Secretary that states any of the following matters is admissible in any legal proceedings (whether or not proceedings under this Act) and is evidence of the matters so stated—
(a) that an instrument was made, issued or given under this Act on a specified day by a specified person,
(b) the terms of any instrument made, issued or given, or purported to be made, issued or given, under this Act, as in force on a specified day or during a specified period,
(c) the manner in which the instrument was made, issued or given,
(d) that an instrument made, issued or given under this Act was amended or revoked, the day on which it was amended or revoked, and the terms of any amendment,
(e) that a function was delegated under this Act, including the following—
(i) the person or persons to whom the function was delegated,
(ii) the date of the delegation,
(iii) the period during which the delegation had effect,
(iv) the terms of the delegation, including any restrictions or limitations on the delegation,
(f) that a person who made, issued or gave or purported to make, issue or give, an instrument under this Act was the holder of a specified office on a specified day or during a specified period,
(g) that a person was, on a specified day or during a specified period, an authorised officer under this Act,
(h) the terms of, and any conditions of or limitations on, a person’s appointment as an authorised officer under this Act.
(2) For the purposes of this section, a document purporting to be a certificate under this section is, unless the contrary is proved, taken to be such a certificate.
(3) In this section—
given includes served.
instrument includes a notice or direction.
Secretary includes a delegate of the Secretary.
73
Opinion of Secretary
73 Opinion of Secretary
73 Opinion of Secretary
In any legal proceedings, it is to be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, that the opinion of the Secretary necessary for any of the purposes of this Act was duly formed.
Part 9
Authorised officers
Part 9 Authorised officers
Part 9 Authorised officers
74
Appointment of authorised officers
74 Appointment of authorised officers
74 Appointment of authorised officers
(1) The Secretary may, by instrument in writing, appoint any person (including a class of persons) as an authorised officer for the purposes of this Act.
(2) An appointment may apply to a specified person or to persons of a specified class.
(3) An appointment may be unconditional, or subject to conditions or limitations.
(4) An appointment has effect for the period specified in the instrument of appointment or, if no period is specified, until revoked by the Secretary.
(5) The Secretary may, by instrument in writing, revoke or amend an appointment under this section at any time.
(6) If an appointment of an authorised officer is made by reference to a particular office, the person appointed ceases to be an authorised officer if the person ceases to hold that office.
75
Persons eligible for appointment as authorised officers
75 Persons eligible for appointment as authorised officers
75 Persons eligible for appointment as authorised officers
(1) Each of the following persons is eligible to be appointed as an authorised officer for the purposes of this Act—
(a) an employee of the Department,
(b) an employee of the Environment Protection Authority,
(c) an employee of the Department of Planning and Environment,
(g) a person of a class prescribed by the regulations.
(2) A police officer is taken to be an authorised officer under this Act and may exercise all of the functions of an authorised officer under this Act.
(3) Nothing in this Act limits the functions of a person who is an authorised officer under any other Act or law.
s 75: Am 2018 No 59, Sch 5.1; 2022 No 59, Sch 3.7; 2024 No 53, Sch 3.4[3].
76
Powers subject to instrument of appointment
76 Powers subject to instrument of appointment
76 Powers subject to instrument of appointment
(1) An authorised officer may exercise the functions of an authorised officer under this Act, subject to any conditions or limitations specified in the officer’s instrument of appointment.
(2) Nothing in this Act authorises or requires an authorised officer to act in contravention of the conditions or limitations specified in the officer’s instrument of appointment.
77
Issue of identification
77 Issue of identification
77 Issue of identification
(1) Every authorised officer is to be provided with evidence of his or her authority as an authorised officer.
(2) This section does not apply to a police officer.
78
Identification to be produced
78 Identification to be produced
78 Identification to be produced
(1) In the course of exercising the functions of an authorised officer under this Act, the officer must, if requested to do so by any person affected by the exercise of any such function, produce to the person the officer’s evidence of authority.
(2) This section does not apply to a police officer who is in uniform.
79
Use of assistants
79 Use of assistants
79 Use of assistants
(1) An authorised officer exercising a function conferred by or under this Act may exercise the function with the assistance of any other person the authorised officer considers necessary.
(2) The person may accompany an authorised officer and take all reasonable steps to assist the authorised officer in the exercise of the authorised officer’s functions under this Act.
80
Offences
80 Offences
80 Offences
(1) A person who resists or obstructs an authorised officer in the exercise of the officer’s functions under this Act is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.
(2) A person who assaults, abuses or threatens an authorised officer, or who encourages another person to do so, is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty—100 penalty units or imprisonment for 6 months, or both.
(3) A person who impersonates an authorised officer is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty—100 penalty units or imprisonment for 6 months, or both.
Part 10
Miscellaneous
Part 10 Miscellaneous
Part 10 Miscellaneous
81
Administrative review of decisions
81 Administrative review of decisions
81 Administrative review of decisions
(1) A person who is aggrieved by any of the following decisions may apply to the Tribunal for an administrative review under the Administrative Decisions Review Act 1997 of that decision—
(a) a decision of the Secretary to impose or amend a building product use ban,
(b) a decision of the Secretary to issue an affected building notice,
(c) a decision of the Secretary to issue a general building safety notice,
(d) a decision of the Secretary to refuse to revoke an affected building notice on application made by the person under this Act,
(e) a decision of the Secretary to require a product assessment to be conducted.
(2) An application may not be made more than 28 days after the day on which notice of the decision is published on the internet, or served on the person, whichever occurs first.
(3) Division 3 (Internal reviews) of Part 2 of Chapter 3 of the Administrative Decisions Review Act 1997 does not apply to a decision to impose or amend a building product use ban under this Act.
Section 49 of the Administrative Decisions Review Act 1997 requires an administrator to provide, on request by an interested person, a statement of reasons for a reviewable decision. The Secretary is already required by this Act to provide the Secretary’s reasons for imposing or amending a building product use ban when notice of the ban or amendment is published.
(2) If the Tribunal considers that the statement of reasons for imposing or amending a building product use ban, as set out in the notice of the ban or amendment, is not an adequate statement of reasons, the Tribunal may (on the application of an interested person) order the Secretary to provide an adequate statement of reasons or further particulars of the reasons for the decision within such time as may be specified in the order.
(3) For the purposes of this section, a statement of reasons for imposing or amending a building product use ban is adequate only if it sets out the following—
(a) the findings of the Secretary that led the Secretary to impose or amend the building product use ban,
(b) the evidence or other material on which those findings were based,
(c) the reasoning process that led the Secretary to those findings.
(4) In this section—
interested person means a person who is entitled to apply for an administrative review of a decision to impose or amend a building product use ban.
83
Enforcement of Act by council officers
83 Enforcement of Act by council officers
83 Enforcement of Act by council officers
(1) A power conferred by the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 on a council investigation officer (within the meaning of section 9.13 of that Act) that may be exercised for the purpose of enabling a council to exercise its functions under that Act may also be exercised for the purpose of enabling a council to investigate, monitor or enforce compliance with this Act or a building product rectification order.
(1) A person who, with the intention of obtaining a financial advantage or causing a financial disadvantage to another person—
(a) provides any false or misleading information about a building product or the use of a building product to the Secretary, or
(b) makes an unsubstantiated allegation about a building product or the use of a building product to the Secretary,
is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty—100 penalty units.
(2) In this section—
obtain a financial advantage and cause a financial disadvantage have the same meanings as they have in Part 4AA of the Crimes Act 1900.
Secretary includes an authorised officer or any other person exercising functions under this Act.
unsubstantiated allegation means an allegation or complaint made without reasonable grounds.
85
Act prevails over National Construction Code
85 Act prevails over National Construction Code
85 Act prevails over National Construction Code
(1) A building product use ban may be imposed even if the building product or the use of the building product concerned complies with the requirements of the National Construction Code.
(2) The fact that a building product or the use of a building product complies with a requirement of the National Construction Code does not constitute a reasonable excuse for a contravention of a building product use ban.
(3) In this section—
National Construction Code means the National Construction Code produced and maintained by the Australian Building Codes Board, as in force from time to time.
86
Exchange of information
86 Exchange of information
86 Exchange of information
(1) The Secretary may enter into, or approve of, an arrangement (an information sharing arrangement) with a relevant agency for the purposes of sharing or exchanging information held by the Secretary or the agency.
(2) The information to which an information sharing arrangement may relate is limited to the following—
(a) information concerning investigations into and assessments of the safety of building products,
(b) any other information about building products and the use of building products in buildings relevant to the administration of this Act,
(c) any other information of a type prescribed by the regulations.
(3) Under an information sharing arrangement, the Secretary and the relevant agency are, despite any other Act or law of the State, authorised—
(a) to request and receive information held by the other party to the arrangement, to the extent that the information is reasonably necessary to the exercise of the Secretary’s functions under this Act, the administration or execution of this Act or to protect the safety of a person or property, and
(b) to disclose information to the other party, to the extent that the information is reasonably necessary to the exercise of the other party’s functions or to prevent or eliminate a safety risk that may arise from the use of a building product in a building.
(4) The Secretary may also (whether as part of an information sharing arrangement or otherwise)—
(a) refer any matter with respect to building products or the use of building products to a relevant agency, and
(b) receive any such matter from a relevant agency, and
(c) conduct a joint investigation into any such matter with a relevant agency.
(5) Any such relevant agency is, despite any other Act or law of the State, authorised to refer such a matter to the Secretary or to conduct an investigation into the matter jointly with the Secretary.
(6) This section does not—
(a) limit the functions that may be exercised by the Secretary under other provisions of this Act, or
(b) require the Secretary to provide information to a relevant agency only in accordance with an information sharing arrangement where that information can otherwise be lawfully provided, or
(c) limit the operation of any other Act or law under which a relevant agency is authorised or required to disclose information to another person or body.
(7) In this section—
information includes reports, recommendations, opinions, assessments and operational plans.
law enforcement agency means—
(a) the NSW Police Force or the police force of another State or Territory or of an overseas jurisdiction, or
(b) the Australian Federal Police, or
(c) the New South Wales Crime Commission, or
(d) the Australian Crime Commission, or
(e) any other authority or person responsible for the investigation or prosecution of offences against the laws of the State or of the Commonwealth, another State or Territory or an overseas jurisdiction.
relevant agency means—
(a) an agency of the State, or of the Commonwealth, another State or Territory or an overseas jurisdiction, that exercises functions under an enactment with respect to fair trading or consumer protection, or
(b) an agency of the State, or of the Commonwealth, another State or Territory or an overseas jurisdiction, that exercises functions under an enactment with respect to residential building work (within the meaning of the Home Building Act 1989) or plumbing and drainage work (within the meaning of the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2011), or
(c) a council, or
(d) a law enforcement agency, or
(e) any other agency of the State or of the Commonwealth, another State or Territory or an overseas jurisdiction, or
(f) any other person or body that exercises functions, in the public interest, that involve protecting the interests of consumers, or
(g) any other person or body prescribed by the regulations.
87
Permits
87 Permits
87 Permits
(1) The Secretary may, by instrument in writing, issue a permit to a person that authorises the person to engage in any specified conduct.
(2) A person is not guilty of an offence against this Act or the regulations if the person was authorised to engage in the conduct alleged to constitute the offence by a permit in force under this Act. A permit does not authorise a contravention of any other Act.
(3) A permit is subject to any conditions imposed by the Secretary.
(4) Conditions may be imposed—
(a) at the time of granting the permit, or
(b) at any other time by variation to the permit.
(5) The Secretary may, at any time, vary a permit by notice in writing to the permit holder.
(6) A variation includes the imposition of new conditions on a permit, the substitution of a condition, or the omission or amendment of a condition.
(7) A person who contravenes a condition of a permit is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty—100 penalty units.
(8) A permit remains in force for the period specified in the permit, unless sooner revoked by the Secretary.
(9) If no period in which the permit remains in force is specified in the permit, the permit remains in force until it is revoked by the Secretary.
(10) The Secretary may, by notice in writing to a permit holder, revoke a permit—
(a) if the Secretary is of the opinion that the permit holder has contravened a provision of this Act or the regulations, or
(b) if the Secretary is of the opinion that the permit holder is not a suitable person to engage in the conduct authorised by the permit, or
(c) on any other grounds prescribed by the regulations.
(11) The regulations may make further provision for permits including by providing for any of the following—
(a) applications for permits or for variations to permits,
(b) eligibility criteria for permits,
(c) fees for permits.
88
Exemptions
88 Exemptions
88 Exemptions
(1) The regulations may exempt from all or any specified provisions of this Act or any notice or other instrument under this Act—
(a) any person or class of persons, or
(b) any thing or class of things.
(2) An exemption may be conditional or unconditional.
(3) An exemption has no effect during any period in which a condition to which it is subject is not complied with.
89
Delegation by Secretary
89 Delegation by Secretary
89 Delegation by Secretary
(1) The Secretary may delegate to any person the exercise of any of the functions conferred or imposed on the Secretary by or under this Act (other than this power of delegation or a function conferred by Part 3).
(2) The Secretary may delegate a function conferred by Part 3 to any person employed in the Public Service.
(3) A delegate of the Secretary may sub-delegate a function if authorised in writing to do so by the Secretary.
(4) If the Secretary delegates functions subject to conditions or limitations, any sub-delegation by the delegate is taken to be subject to the same conditions and limitations, and any further conditions or limitations imposed by the delegate.
90
Service of notices etc
90 Service of notices etc
90 Service of notices etc
(1) A notice or direction in writing that is required or permitted to be given under this Act may be given—
(a) to a person other than a corporation—
(i) by giving it to the person, or
(ii) by leaving it at the person’s place of residence with someone who apparently resides there and has apparently reached the age of 16 years, or
(iii) by leaving it at the person’s place of employment or business with someone who is apparently employed there and has apparently reached the age of 16 years, or
(iv) by posting it in a letter addressed to the person at the address last known to the Secretary of the person’s place of residence, employment or business, or
(v) by email to an email address specified by the person for the giving of notices or directions of that kind, or
(vi) by any other method authorised by this Act or the regulations for the giving of notices or directions of that kind, or
(b) to a corporation—
(i) by giving it to the secretary of the corporation, or any other person concerned in the management of the corporation, personally, or
(ii) by leaving it at the corporation’s only or principal place of business with someone who is apparently employed there and has apparently reached the age of 16 years, or
(iii) by posting it in a letter addressed to the corporation at the address last known to the Secretary of its only or principal place of business, or
(iv) by email to an email address specified by the corporation for the giving of notices or directions of that kind, or
(v) by any other method authorised by this Act or the regulations for the giving of notices or directions of that kind.
(2) Subsection (1) (b) does not limit anything in the Corporations Act 2001 of the Commonwealth.
(3) In this section—
give includes serve.
91
Publication on internet
91 Publication on internet
91 Publication on internet
If this Act requires or permits the Secretary to publish a notice or other instrument on the internet, the notice or instrument is to be published on a website that the Secretary considers is appropriate to cause the notice or instrument to come to the attention of the public.
92
Description of building products
92 Description of building products
92 Description of building products
A notice or other instrument under this Act may specify a building product to which it applies by reference to a description of the building product, the batch or brand of the building product, the manufacturer or supplier of the building product, the period in which the building product was manufactured or supplied or in any other way.
93
Protection from liability
93 Protection from liability
93 Protection from liability
(1) A matter or thing done or omitted to be done by the Crown or a protected person does not subject the Crown or the protected person to any action, liability, claim or demand if the matter or thing was done or omitted to be done in good faith for the purpose of executing any provision of this Act, the regulations or any instrument made under this Act.
(2) No liability is incurred by a person for publishing in good faith—
(a) a statement issued in the execution of functions under this Act, as referred to in subsection (1), or
Crown means the Crown within the meaning of the Crown Proceedings Act 1988 or an officer, employee or agency of the Crown.
liability includes liability for defamation.
protected person means—
(a) the Minister, or
(b) the Secretary, or
(c) an authorised officer, or
(d) an officer, employee or agent of the Crown or a government agency, or
(e) any other person of a class prescribed by the regulations.
s 93: Am 2017 No 69, Sch 2.1 [6].
94
Act to bind Crown
94 Act to bind Crown
94 Act to bind Crown
This Act binds the Crown in right of New South Wales and, in so far as the legislative power of the Parliament of New South Wales permits, the Crown in all its other capacities.
95
Application of ACL
95 Application of ACL
95 Application of ACL
If a provision of this Act applies the ACL to or in respect of a matter arising under this Act, the ACL provision is to be applied with the following modifications—
(a) a reference in the ACL to goods is to be read as a reference to building products,
(b) any further modifications provided for by this Act or the regulations.
96
Regulations
96 Regulations
96 Regulations
(1) The Governor may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, for or with respect to any matter that by this Act is required or permitted to be prescribed or that is necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.
(2) A regulation may create an offence with a maximum penalty not exceeding 100 penalty units.
Schedule 1
Savings, transitional and other provisions
Schedule 1 Savings, transitional and other provisions
Schedule 1 Savings, transitional and other provisions
Schedule 2
Schedule 2
Schedule 2 (Repealed)
sch 2: Am 1987 No 15, sec 30C. Rep 2018 No 25, Sch 6.
Source text: opening excerpt
Sourced from legislation.nsw.gov.au, CC BY 4.0.
Part 1 Preliminary
Part 1 Preliminary
Part 1 Preliminary
1 Name of Act
1 Name of Act
1 Name of Act
This Act is the Building Products (Safety) Act 2017.
2 Commencement
2 Commencement
2 Commencement
(1) This Act commences on a day or days to be appointed by proclamation, except as provided by subsections (2)–(5).
(2) Schedule 2.1 commences on the commencement of Schedule 9.1 [2] to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment Act 2017, or the date of assent to this Act, whichever occurs later.
(3) Schedule 2.4 [3] commences on the commencement of section 6.25 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (as inserted by the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment Act 2017), or the date of assent to this Act, whichever occurs later.
(4) Schedule 2.4 [4] commences on the commencement of section 9.34 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (as inserted by the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment Act 2017), or the date of assent to this Act, whichever occurs later.
(5) Schedule 2.5 commences on the commencement of Schedule 9.1 [2] to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment Act 2017, or the commencement of section 18 of this Act, whichever occurs later.
3 Definitions
3 Definitions
3 Definitions
(1) In this Act—
authorised officer means an authorised officer appointed under section 74.
building—see section 6.
building product—see section 5.
building product investigation—see section 34.
building product rectification order means an order under section 20.
building product use ban means a building product use ban under section 9 that is in force.
building work—see section 8.
council has the same meaning as in the Local Government Act 1993.
Department means the department in which this Act is administered.
Part 5 introduces a civil enforcement alternative: the Secretary may accept a written building product undertaking (s 27) that, if breached, can be enforced by Supreme Court order (s 30) without prejudice to criminal liability. Offence provisions are calibrated for deterrence. Contravening a ban or representing that a banned product is suitable for a prohibited use carries maximum penalties of 10,000 penalty units for corporations (with daily continuing penalties) and 2,000 penalty units or two years’ imprisonment for individuals (s 15). Executive liability offences (s 59) expose directors and senior managers to personal liability where they knew or ought reasonably to have known of the corporate offence and failed to take reasonable steps to prevent it. The Act expressly applies certain Australian Consumer Law (NSW) defences and penalty aggregation rules (s 68) while prevailing over the National Construction Code where a ban has been imposed (s 85).
Administrative oversight is provided through NCAT review of specified decisions (s 81), with a modified statement-of-reasons regime (s 82). The Supreme Court retains broad injunction powers (s 70) and compensation orders may be made on conviction (s 69). In short, the statute creates an integrated lifecycle regime: detection and banning, investigation and assessment, notification and rectification, enforcement and review. Every substantive provision is expressed to operate on “reasonable grounds” or “if practicable”, conferring calibrated discretion while exposing decisions to judicial scrutiny for legal error.
Who it affects
The Act casts a wide net across the construction supply chain, building owners, regulators and adjacent professionals.
Manufacturers and suppliers (including importers of foreign building products) are directly exposed. The Secretary must, if practicable, give them notice before imposing a ban (s 14) and must consult them before or during a building product investigation (s 35). They may be compelled to conduct product assessments (s 39(2)(b)) and bear the cost of Secretary-led assessments if they fail to comply (s 40). Representations that a banned product is suitable for a prohibited use expose them to the s 15(3) offence.
Builders, coordinators and supervisors of building work (defined broadly in s 8 by reference to the Home Building Act 1989) commit an offence if they cause a banned product to be used (s 15(2)). The definition of building work deliberately captures residential building work and excludes only narrow categories such as pure architectural supervision or owner-builder work without reward. Demolition, certain floor coverings and lift installation are carved out, but the regulations may expand or contract the definition (s 8(7)).
Owners of land and buildings (including strata owners corporations under s 18(4)) bear the primary burden of compliance with rectification orders (s 20(2)). They must be given affected building notices (s 18(3)) and may apply for revocation once the building is “made safe” (s 25). Failure to comply with a rectification order attracts the enforcement machinery of the EP&A Act or Local Government Act 1993, including potential criminal sanctions and civil enforcement.
Councils and relevant enforcement authorities are both regulators and reporting nodes. They receive affected building notices and general building safety notices (ss 18-19), must consider making rectification orders, and must report to the Secretary on their actions (s 23). Council investigation officers may exercise EP&A Act powers for the purposes of this Act (s 83). Councils are also subject to NCAT review if they issue orders, with the Secretary entitled to appear on appeals (s 22).
Authorised officers (s 74) include Department employees, EPA staff, Fire and Rescue NSW personnel, council authorised persons and police. Their powers are conditioned by their instrument of appointment (s 76) and they must produce identification on request (s 78). They enjoy protection from liability when acting in good faith (s 93).
Directors and managers face personal exposure under the executive liability (s 59), accessorial (s 60) and general director liability (s 61) provisions. The due-diligence style defence in s 59(7) requires evidence of compliance assessments, training, resource allocation and corporate culture.
The Secretary and the Minister hold central decision-making roles. The Secretary’s opinion is presumed correct unless the contrary is proved (s 73), and evidentiary certificates signed by the Secretary are prima facie evidence (s 72). Injunction proceedings require Ministerial consent (s 70(2)).
Occupiers, strata lot owners and the public receive notification of risks and may make submissions when the Secretary calls for them (s 13). Tenants and occupants are protected indirectly through the safety-risk trigger but are not primary duty-bearers.
The Act therefore affects virtually every participant in the built-environment value chain, from overseas manufacturers to local councils, with particularly acute compliance burdens on those who specify, supply or install products once a ban is published.
Key duties and rights
Duties
Duty not to cause banned products to be used (s 15(1)). “Cause” is defined to include performing the building work itself or any other circumstance prescribed by regulation.
Duty not to misrepresent suitability (s 15(3)). This applies in trade or commerce and captures advertising, packaging and point-of-sale claims.
Duty to comply with rectification orders (via the incorporated EP&A Act or Local Government Act mechanisms in s 21).
Duty to comply with product assessment orders (s 39) and to provide accurate reports (s 39(8)).
Duty to comply with authorised officer requirements (ss 44, 45, 49, 51). Failure attracts a strict 100 penalty unit offence (s 54), subject to the reasonable excuse defence (s 56) and the warning precondition (s 57).
Directors’ duties to take reasonable steps to prevent executive liability offences (s 59(1)(c)(ii)). The non-exhaustive list in s 59(7) mirrors corporate due-diligence language found in work health and safety legislation.
Duty to report imposed on councils (s 23).
Rights
Right to reasons for any ban or amendment (s 10).
Right to make submissions when the Secretary calls for public comment (s 13), although procedural fairness is expressly excluded prior to imposition (s 13(3)).
Right to apply for revocation of an affected building notice once the building is “made safe” (s 25).
Right to administrative review by NCAT of bans, affected building notices, general safety notices, refusal to revoke, and product assessment orders (s 81), subject to the 28-day time limit.
Right to compensation for physical damage caused by entry or destructive testing, unless the occupier obstructed the officer (s 53).
Right to a permit authorising otherwise prohibited conduct (s 87), although permits are discretionary and revocable.
Right to an undertaking as an alternative to immediate prosecution (s 27), with statutory protection against use as an admission of guilt.
The statute carefully balances these rights against the overriding public interest in rapid risk mitigation, most visibly in the urgent-publication exception in s 14(4) and the presumption of the Secretary’s opinion (s 73).
Penalties and enforcement
Penalties are among the heaviest in NSW fair-trading legislation. The s 15 offences carry 10,000 penalty units (currently $1.1 million) for corporations with daily continuing penalties of 1,000 units. Individuals face 2,000 penalty units or two years’ imprisonment. The same maxima apply to breach of an undertaking (s 29) and to directors under the executive liability offence (s 59), albeit capped at 200 penalty units for the latter.
Continuing offence provisions (s 62) ensure daily liability until compliance. Penalty notices are available for prescribed offences (s 65), capped at the court maximum. Proceedings may be brought only by the Secretary or authorised prosecutors (s 66) and must generally commence within two years, extendable where evidence first came to an authorised officer’s attention within the prior two years (s 67).
Civil: undertakings enforceable by Supreme Court order with costs and monitoring expenses recoverable (s 30(3)).
Injunctive: broad Supreme Court power on the Secretary’s application (s 70).
Criminal: strict liability elements for many offences, reversed onus for reasonable excuse (s 64), and ACL-style mistake-of-fact and “act or default of another” defences (s 68).
Director liability: three distinct regimes (ss 59-61) covering executive liability, accessorial liability and general knowing authorisation.
Evidentiary aids are generous: Secretary’s certificates (s 72), presumption that the Secretary’s opinion was duly formed (s 73), and admissibility of product assessment reports (s 41(3)). The Act binds the Crown (s 94) and prevails over the National Construction Code (s 85), removing any “compliance with NCC equals safety” defence.
How it interacts with other laws
The Act is deliberately parasitic on a constellation of statutes.
Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979: rectification orders are deemed development control orders (s 21(1)); council investigation officers’ powers are extended (s 83); definitions of “building”, “land” and “temporary structure” are imported.
Home Building Act 1989: the definition of building work is aligned with residential building work (s 8(2)); owner-builder and specialist work exclusions are modified (s 8(3)-(5)); asbestos is carved out by reference to Division 1A of Part 8.
Fair Trading Act 1987 and Australian Consumer Law (NSW): definitions of “published”, “statement”, “trade or commerce”, “the ACL” and “manufacturer” are adopted (s 3(1)); ACL ss 207-209 and 214-215 apply to Part 3 offences (s 68); evidentiary provisions (s 71) and modifications for building products (s 95) are prescribed.
Local Government Act 1993: applies to non-EP&A buildings (s 21(3)); definitions of “council” and “owner” are borrowed.
Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 and Strata Schemes Development Act 2015: owners corporation notification rules (s 18(4)) and strata scheme definitions.
Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002: governs search warrants (s 50(3)).
Administrative Decisions Review Act 1997: modified so that internal review is excluded for bans (s 81(3)) and statement-of-reasons obligations are replaced by the Act’s own regime (s 82).
Information sharing with fair-trading, consumer protection, building regulators, councils and law enforcement agencies is authorised notwithstanding other secrecy laws (s 86). The Act expressly does not limit other investigation powers (s 37) or other liability regimes (ss 59(6), 60(6)).
Recent changes and why
The version analysed reflects amendments up to 2024 No 53, Sch 3.4. Key changes include:
2022 amendments (2022 No 59, Sch 3.7) updated definitions and authorised officer eligibility to reflect machinery-of-government changes.
2024 amendments (2024 No 53) further refined authorised officer classes, removed spent provisions in s 33, and adjusted cross-references.
Earlier 2017 amendments (2017 No 69, Sch 2.1) aligned the Act with the commencement of the EP&A Amendment Act 2017, ensuring rectification orders dovetailed with the new development control order framework.
These changes were driven by the need to respond to the Lacrosse and Grenfell cladding crises, to integrate the new planning enforcement regime, and to address practical difficulties identified in early implementation (for example, identifying foreign manufacturers and recovering assessment costs). The expansion of product assessment powers and information-sharing provisions reflects a policy shift from purely reactive banning to proactive risk identification across the entire product lifecycle.
Court challenges and controversies
Although the Act is relatively recent, several structural features have already generated litigation and commentary.
First, the exclusion of procedural fairness before a ban is imposed (s 13(3)) has been criticised as draconian, although the mandatory post-decision reasons requirement (s 10) and NCAT review rights (s 81) provide some check. In practice, the Secretary has used the public-submission mechanism (s 13(1)) to blunt natural justice complaints.
Second, the interaction between a ban and existing development consents or construction certificates has produced disputes. Because the Act prevails over the National Construction Code (s 85), a product that meets NCC standards may still be banned, forcing owners to seek modification of consents or face rectification orders. Land and Environment Court appeals have tested whether a rectification order can be challenged on the basis that the underlying ban was unreasonable (s 22(3) allows the Court to order the Secretary to revoke a notice).
Third, executive liability provisions (s 59) have raised concerns among directors of smaller manufacturers. The due-diligence factors in s 59(7) require demonstrable corporate culture change, which smaller entities argue is disproportionate. No reported superior court decisions have yet settled the precise content of “reasonable steps” in the building products context, but analogous WHS cases suggest courts will expect concrete evidence of risk assessments, training records and supplier audits.
Fourth, cost-recovery under s 40 for product assessments has been controversial where the Secretary’s assessment reaches a different conclusion from the manufacturer’s. The recoverable fee is limited to “reasonable” costs, yet the absence of merits review of the quantum has led to negotiations rather than litigation.
Finally, the broad definition of “building product” (s 5) — “any product, material or other thing that is, or could be, used in a building” — has prompted submissions that it captures temporary site materials or even software-controlled systems, stretching the Act beyond its original cladding focus. Regulators have so far confined use to tangible construction components, but the text supports a wider reading.
Gotchas
Most practitioners miss several subtle but high-impact features.
Retroactivity is baked in. A building can be declared “affected” even if the product was installed years before the ban (s 17(2)). Owners who relied on then-compliant certifications have no statutory defence.
“Use” includes misuse (s 7(3)). An installer who installs a product contrary to manufacturer instructions can trigger a ban contravention even if the product itself is not banned for all uses.
Continuing offences run until compliance, not merely until detection (s 62). Daily penalties of $110,000 for corporations can accumulate rapidly while owners negotiate with councils.
The Secretary’s opinion is presumed correct (s 73). An applicant for NCAT review must positively displace that presumption; merely showing that another reasonable view existed is insufficient.
Product assessment reports are admissible in rectification proceedings (s 41(3)) and can shortcut expert evidence. Manufacturers who furnish optimistic reports risk misleading-conduct charges under both this Act and the ACL.
Information-sharing authorisations override secrecy (s 86(3)). Data provided to the Secretary under compulsion can lawfully be passed to the EPA, Fire and Rescue NSW or even interstate regulators without further notice to the supplier.
Permits under s 87 do not protect against other legislation. A permit to use a banned product for research does not authorise a breach of the Home Building Act warranty provisions or planning controls.
Council reporting is public (s 23(6)), subject only to withholding the precise street address. Media can therefore track which owners are dragging their heels, creating reputational pressure outside the formal penalty regime.
Destructive testing is expressly authorised (s 49(4)) and the compensation obligation (s 53) excludes “any damage caused by the exercise of any other power”. A laboratory fire test that destroys a $50,000 sample may not be compensable.
Executive liability captures “corporate culture” (s 59(7)(d)). A single email from a director downplaying a safety warning can be sufficient to prove failure to maintain a culture of compliance.
Compliance professionals who treat the Act as “just another cladding rule” are exposed. The statute is a sophisticated, multi-layered safety net that can be deployed rapidly against any emerging product risk.
How to comply
A robust compliance program must operate at three levels: pre-ban horizon scanning, immediate response to a ban, and ongoing building portfolio risk management.
Pre-ban horizon scanning
Maintain a register of all products used in current and past projects, cross-referenced to manufacturer, batch, supplier and installation date.
Subscribe to Secretary’s publication website and relevant industry alerts. Treat any call for public submissions (s 13) as a formal trigger for legal review.
Require suppliers to warrant that no product is, or is likely to become, subject to investigation. Include contractual indemnities and mandatory notification of product assessment orders received by the supplier.
For foreign products, map the Australian importer or agent to ensure s 14 notice can be received.
Immediate response to a ban
Upon publication, freeze all further specification or installation. Notify site supervisors in writing that continued use is a criminal offence.
Within 48 hours, commission an internal audit to identify every location where the product has been used. Engage independent fire engineers or structural consultants to quantify the safety risk.
If an affected building notice is received, treat it as prima facie evidence of risk (s 20(4)). Do not contest the underlying science in the first instance; focus instead on the practicability of elimination versus minimisation (s 26).
Consider offering a s 27 undertaking to the Secretary. A well-drafted undertaking can avoid criminal proceedings and demonstrate “reasonable steps” for director defence purposes.
Rectification project governance
Engage qualified consultants who meet any specifications in a product assessment order or rectification order.
Document the decision-making process for choosing elimination versus minimisation so that the building can later be certified “made safe” (s 26).
For strata buildings, ensure the owners corporation is formally notified and that levies are raised promptly; delay by lot owners does not excuse the owners corporation’s obligations.
Maintain a central file containing all Secretary notices, expert reports, costings and correspondence. This file will be essential if the Secretary seeks to recover assessment costs or if directors are later prosecuted.
Corporate systems
Implement director-level reporting on product safety risks at least quarterly. Record the reports to demonstrate the “assessing compliance” and “corporate culture” limbs of the s 59(7) defence.
Train procurement, design and site teams on the Act’s definitions. A common error is assuming that “building product” is limited to structural items; s 5 is far broader.
Integrate this Act’s requirements into ISO 9001 or similar quality systems so that product bans automatically trigger non-conformance reports and corrective action plans.
For listed companies or those with whistleblower policies, ensure that internal reports about unsafe products are treated as protected disclosures to avoid s 84 fraudulent allegation offences.
Record-keeping and reporting
Retain all product assessment reports, test results and expert certifications for at least seven years.
If a council requests a report under s 23, treat the 30-day deadline as immovable; late reporting itself can trigger further Secretary scrutiny.
When publishing notices on the internet (s 91), the Secretary will use a dedicated NSW Government website; monitor it rather than relying on general media.
By treating the Act as a product-lifecycle safety statute rather than a one-off cladding response, organisations can convert a compliance burden into a market differentiator: demonstrating that their supply chain is resilient to future safety bans.
Section 4Safety risks and unsafe use of building products
foreign building product means a building product that is manufactured wholly or partly outside Australia.
function includes a power, authority or duty, and exercise a function includes perform a duty.
injury includes illness.
land has the same meaning as in the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
manufacturer has the same meaning in relation to building products as it has in the ACL in relation to goods.
owner has the same meaning as in the Local Government Act 1993 and includes, in relation to a building, the owner of the building and the owner of the land on which the building is erected.
premises includes any land, building, structure, vessel, aircraft or vehicle and any place, whether built on or not.
published has the same meaning as it has in the Fair Trading Act 1987.
representation means a claim, promise, publication, statement or other representation made in any way, including, for example, in advertising material or packaging or on a point-of-sale display.
safety risk—see section 4.
Secretary means the Secretary of the Department.
statement has the same meaning as in the Fair Trading Act 1987.
strata scheme means a freehold strata scheme or a leasehold strata scheme under the Strata Schemes Development Act 2015.
supplier of a thing includes a person who supplies or re-supplies the thing by way of sale, exchange, lease, hire or hire-purchase.
the ACL means the Australian Consumer Law (NSW).
Note.
See Part 3 of the Fair Trading Act 1987.
trade or commerce has the same meaning as in the Fair Trading Act 1987.
Tribunal means the Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
unsafe—see section 4.
use, in relation to a building product—see section 7.
Note.
The Interpretation Act 1987 contains definitions and other provisions that affect the interpretation and application of this Act.
(2) Sections 2 (2) and 11 of the ACL apply to the provisions of this Act in the same way as they apply to the provisions of the ACL.
(3) Notes included in this Act do not form part of this Act.
s 3: Am 2022 No 59, Sch 3.7; 2024 No 53, Sch 3.4[1] [2].
Part 2 Key concepts
Part 2 Key concepts
Part 2 Key concepts
4 Safety risks and unsafe use of building products
4 Safety risks and unsafe use of building products
4 Safety risks and unsafe use of building products
(1) For the purposes of this Act, there is a safety risk posed by the use of a building product in a building if any occupants of the building are or will likely be at risk of death or serious injury arising from the use of the building product in the building.
(2) A risk can be considered to arise from the use of a building product in a building even if the risk will only arise in certain circumstances or if some other event occurs, such as fire.
(3) The regulations may prescribe other circumstances in which a safety risk is posed by the use of a building product in a building.
(4) For the purposes of this Act, the use of a building product in a building is unsafe if there is a safety risk posed by the use of the building product in the building.
5 Building product
5 Building product
5 Building product
(1) A building product means any product, material or other thing that is, or could be, used in a building.
(2) The following things are not building products for the purposes of this Act—
(a) asbestos or an asbestos product (including any loose-fill asbestos insulation within the meaning of Division 1A of Part 8 of the Home Building Act 1989),
(b) anything that the regulations declare is not a building product for the purposes of this Act.
6 Building
6 Building
6 Building
A building includes part of a building, and also includes any structure or part of a structure (including any temporary structure or part of a temporary structure within the meaning of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979), but does not include anything excluded from this definition by the regulations.
7 Use of building product
7 Use of building product
7 Use of building product
(1) A building product is used in a building if it is incorporated into, connected to, or otherwise installed in a building by means of building work.
(2) The use of a building product in a building has a corresponding meaning.
(3) A use of a building product in a building includes a misuse of a building product in a building.
8 Building work
8 Building work
8 Building work
(1) Building work means any work involved in, or involved in co-ordinating or supervising any work involved in—
(a) the construction of a building, or
(b) the making of alterations or additions to a building, or
(c) the repairing, renovation, decoration or protective treatment of a building.
(2) Work that relates to a building is taken to be building work if the work is residential building work under the Home Building Act 1989 or if it would be residential building work under that Act if the building were a dwelling.
(3) Work that relates to a dwelling is not building work if the work is not residential building work under the Home Building Act 1989, subject to subsection (4).
(4) Work that relates to a dwelling is not excluded from being building work under this Act by virtue of clause 2 (3) (a) of Schedule 1 to the Home Building Act 1989.
(5) The following work is not building work for the purposes of this Act—
(a) the supervision only of building work—
(i) by a person registered as an architect under the Architects Act 2003, or
(ii) by a person supervising owner-builder work (within the meaning of the Home Building Act 1989) for no reward or other consideration, or
(iii) by any other person, if all the building work is being done or supervised by the holder of a contractor licence under the Home Building Act 1989 authorising its holder to contract to do that work,
(b) demolition work,
(c) any work involved in the installation of any material that forms an upper layer or wearing surface of a floor (even if installed as a fixture) and that does not involve any structural changes to the floor, but not including work involved in the installation of floor tiles unless the regulations otherwise provide,
(d) any work that involves the installation or maintenance of any fixed apparatus such as a lift, an escalator, an inclinator or a garage door by means of which persons or things are raised or lowered or moved in some direction that is restricted by fixed guides,
(e) any work done by an individual in connection with a dwelling that is owned by the individual, unless the work is specialist work (within the meaning of the Home Building Act 1989) or work for which an owner-builder permit is required under that Act.
(6) This section has effect subject to any regulations under subsection (7).
(7) The regulations may do any of the following—
(a) declare any work to be building work for the purposes of this Act,
(b) declare any work not to be building work for the purposes of this Act.
(8) In this section—
dwelling has the same meaning as in the Home Building Act 1989.
Part 3 Building product use bans
Part 3 Building product use bans
Part 3 Building product use bans
9 Secretary may prohibit use of building products
9 Secretary may prohibit use of building products
9 Secretary may prohibit use of building products
(1) The Secretary may, by written notice published on the internet, prohibit the use of a specified building product in a building if the Secretary is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the use is unsafe.
(2) A prohibition imposed under this section is a building product use ban.
(3) A building product use ban may be imposed to apply in any of the following ways—
(a) it may apply to a specified use or uses or to all uses of a building product in a building,
(b) it may apply to any building or only to a specified class of buildings,
(c) it may apply to use by specified persons or classes of persons,
(d) it may apply subject to specified exceptions (for example, an exception that permits use of the building product only by a specified class of persons),
(e) it may be subject to conditions or unconditional,
(f) it may apply in any other way authorised by the regulations.
(4) A building product use ban that prohibits an unsafe use of a building product is not invalid merely because it also prohibits another use of the building product that is not an unsafe use if the application of the ban to that other use could not reasonably be avoided and the ban operates reasonably and appropriately in prohibiting the unsafe use.
10 Reasons to be given
10 Reasons to be given
10 Reasons to be given
(1) A building product use ban must specify the reasons why the Secretary has decided to impose the building product use ban.
(2) The requirement to give reasons applies to a decision to amend a building product use ban in the same way as it applies to a decision to impose a building product use ban.
11 Duration of ban
11 Duration of ban
11 Duration of ban
(1) A building product use ban comes into force on the day specified by the Secretary in the notice imposing the ban (being a date not earlier than the date that the notice is first published on the internet).
(2) A building product use ban remains in force until it is revoked by the Secretary.
12 Amendment or revocation of ban
12 Amendment or revocation of ban
12 Amendment or revocation of ban
(1) The Secretary may, by written notice published on the internet—
(a) amend a building product use ban, or
(b) revoke a building product use ban.
(2) An amendment or revocation takes effect on the date specified by the Secretary in the notice amending or revoking the ban (being a date not earlier than the date that the notice is first published on the internet).
13 Secretary may call for public submissions
13 Secretary may call for public submissions
13 Secretary may call for public submissions
(1) The Secretary may, before or after imposing a building product use ban, by written notice published on the internet, call for public submissions on the question of whether a building product use ban is warranted and the terms or proposed terms of the ban.
(2) If the Secretary calls for public submissions, the Secretary is to have regard to any submissions that are duly made to the Secretary by the date that is 28 days after the publication of the notice (or by a later date approved by the Secretary) in deciding whether to impose the building product use ban or, if the ban has already been imposed, to amend or revoke the ban.
(3) The Secretary is not required to give any person an opportunity to make submissions on a building product use ban or proposed building product use ban before it is imposed (despite any requirement of the rules of procedural fairness).
(4) This section applies to an amendment to a building product use ban in the same way as it applies to the imposition of a building product use ban.
14 Notice of imposition of building product use ban
14 Notice of imposition of building product use ban
14 Notice of imposition of building product use ban
(1) The Secretary must, if practicable, give notice of a building product use ban to the manufacturer of the building product concerned.
(2) If the building product is a foreign building product, notice may instead be given to an Australian importer or supplier of the building product.
(3) If practicable, notice is to be given at least 48 hours before the building product use ban is published on the internet.
(4) However, the Secretary is not required to give prior notice of a building product use ban if the Secretary believes on reasonable grounds that the nature of the safety risk posed by the use of the building product is so serious that, in the public interest, the publication of the building product use ban should not be delayed.
(5) The Secretary is not required to give notice to a person under this section if the Secretary is unable, after making reasonable inquiries, to ascertain the ident
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