VIC NEWS

Are you having any difficulties with the Construction Supplier Register (CSR)? We are urgently seeking your comments. We are advocating for changes to the CSR and the underlying requirements in the Building Act 1993 (Vic). For example, some businesses are struggling to comply with the requirement to ensure all registration classes are represented on the company board of directors. Victoria's stimulus projects will be at risk without changes to the CSR - the time for action is now. Please contact Kristy now to share your concerns.  

In a recent meeting with the Department of Treasury and Finance, the government confirmed that sub-consultants are not expected to be included on the Construction Supplier Register (CSR). The purpose of the CSR is to pre-qualify only the lead practitioners as suppliers to the Victorian Government for public construction. If your business is being required by a government client to be on the CSR where either you are a sub-consultant or for disciplines not linked to public construction please let Kristy know.

Victorian members should be aware that the Victorian Government has introduced a new workers permit scheme in response to stage four restrictions in Melbourne. From Thursday 6 August (inclusive), employers must issue a permit to employees that they require to attend a workplace such as a construction site. Employees must carry this permit when travelling to and from a workplace, with photo identification.  Further information on the scheme, including employer eligibility, is available here. 

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We have met with Building Victoria’s Recovery Taskforce to discuss the role of consultants in the economic recovery from COVID-19. The Taskforce was set up to identify and accelerate priority projects to ensure both short and long-term jobs. The Victorian Government has announced the fast tracking of over $1.2 billion for building and development projects. The Taskforce has identified the latest major projects to receive approvals.

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In 2019, the Victorian parliament passed the Professional Engineers Registration Act 2019 and is working on developing the regulations to enact the scheme. Consult Australia advocates for mutual registration - a nationally consistent approach is necessary to reduce the burden on businesses that operate across state and territory borders. We are also in discussions with the Australian Building Codes Board's BCR Framework Implementation Team who is developing a national approach. In addition we are meeting with the federal Deregulation Taskforce that is focussed on occupational mobility. 

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Consult Australia has been invited to sit on the Wellness in Infrastructure Steering Committee. This committee, which meets monthly, represents the construction sector. Members include; Engineers Australia, Roads Australia, Swinburne University, MTIA, Lang O’Rourke, Lend Lease, John Holland, Decmil, McConnell Dowell, Downer, CPB, and Civilex.

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See our submission on the Victorian Royal Commission into the mental health system. Our response focused on workplace matters, and shared a copy of our recent report on the topic. An improved understanding of mental health, reduced stigmas, and an approach focused on prevention were key issues flagged.

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