A new dedicated squad has been established to crack down on dodgy tradies in South Australia, with more than $200,000 in expiations already issued to unlicensed operators and others accused of breaching building industry rules.
The Consumer and Business Services Building Industry Response Team, known as BIRT, was set up by the SA Government earlier this year to target unscrupulous operators and give South Australians more support when building work goes wrong.
The new team sits within the state’s consumer watchdog and comes alongside tougher penalties for unlicensed and dishonest builders, plumbers, gas-fitters and electricians who fail to meet their legal obligations. According to the State Government, the team’s early enforcement action is intended to send a clear warning that illegal behaviour in the sector will not be tolerated.
Minister for Consumer and Business Affairs Michael Brown said the new squad was about protecting South Australians during one of the biggest financial decisions many people will make.
“For most people, building a home is your biggest investment, and we are acting to protect South Australians,” he said.
“Most tradies do the right thing, but we accept no excuses for unlicensed work, missing indemnity insurance, or leaving homeowners stranded.
“We refuse to tolerate this behaviour. Our dedicated compliance team is actively cracking down on these rogue operators.”
Operators hit with enforcement action so far include Khorshed Alam, who received expiations totalling $75,000 after allegedly claiming to be an “owner builder” of two properties in Salisbury and one in Elizabeth East. He was expiated for three counts of operating without a licence and three counts of performing building work without Builders Indemnity Insurance.
Jase Henry, trading as SOS Home Renovations, was issued expiations totalling $25,000 after allegedly holding himself out as a licensed building work contractor when he was not appropriately licensed. The expiations relate to five counts of operating without a licence, with investigations continuing into other potential breaches.
Anu Anand, trading as The Décor Planet SA, received expiations totalling $5000 for allegedly operating without a licence, while Ras Pro Pty Ltd received expiations totalling $5000 for allegedly advertising for building work without a licence.
Mohammed Konneh, trading as MFK Roofing, was issued expiations totalling $5000 for allegedly advertising for building work without a licence following complaints of incomplete and poor-quality work. Michael Wheeler, trading as Maintena Property Maintenance, also received an expiation totalling $5000 for allegedly operating without a licence.
The enforcement action also included Brady Lachlan Moldenhauer, who received expiations totalling $10,000 for allegedly failing to attend two compulsory conciliation conferences, and Toby Brett Maple-Harradine, who received expiations totalling $5000 for allegedly failing to attend a compulsory conciliation conference.
Public warning notices have been issued against each of the traders named, with consumers encouraged not to do business with them. CBS is also urging any consumers who have not yet reported matters involving them to make contact.
The announcement follows the State Government’s review into the building construction industry, with previous reforms including an increase to the policy limit for building indemnity insurance from $150,000 to $250,000 to better protect people building a home.
