The team at Weir Legal and Consulting are known for their long standing expertise in building regulation. We act for most of the bodies involved in building regulation in Victoria including various state government agencies, departments and local government building departments. We have also advised governments in NSW, WA, Qld and the ACT and the Senior Officials Group (representing all states and territories) on building regulatory matters.
We have advised extensively on building product performance including on a wide range of issues arising from the inappropriate use of combustible cladding. This has included acting in over 100 proceedings where owners corporations are seeking a determination to allow them to retain some or all of their combustible cladding, advising on the Victorian state wide audit program and on site specific issues.
We regularly present to authorised officers and decision makers on compliance and enforcement powers, evidence gathering and the issuing of notices and orders. We advise on occupational licensing and registration of building practitioners, including on disciplinary actions by licensing bodies. The matters we are engaged to act in include merits and judicial review proceedings as well as prosecutions.
Our knowledge of building regulatory regimes in Australia is comprehensive. We have given statutory interpretation and policy development advice to across a number of judications. We have also advised some of the peak industry associations in the building sector.
As our clients are mostly government bodies, we do not act for owners, builders or other parties in civil disputes about building matters.
Bronwyn Weir is known for her in depth knowledge of building regulations across Australia. In 2018 Bronwyn co-authored the Building Confidence report with Professor Peter Shergold. The report was commissioned by the Building Ministers’ Forum (comprising Federal, State and Territory Ministers). The pair undertook an assessment of national regulation and compliance systems relating to the building and construction industry and made recommendations for a national best practice approach to building regulation. Bronwyn was a member of the Expert Advisory Group that advised the Australian Building Codes Board on its work to assist the states and territories to implement the Building Confidence Report.
Bronwyn has also provided advice to the Western Australian and Queensland governments on their implementation of the Building Confidence Report. She is an adviser to the inaugural NSW Building Commissioner which has included advising on legislative reforms and issues for strata communities arising from poor building work in apartment buildings. In 2023 she advised the ACT government on its introduction of new accountability measures for property developers.
Bronwyn was appointed by the Queensland government to chair the Building Industry Fairness Reforms Implementation and Evaluation Panel. The Panel’s role was to evaluate reforms relating to security of payment in the construction sector including the introduction of project bank accounts. The Panel’s report was tabled in the Queensland Parliament in November 2019.
Given her national reputation, Bronwyn is often asked to comment on building regulatory matters in the media and to present at industry events such as conferences and webinars.