Building regulation reform
Mr RIORDAN (Polwarth) (09:50): I rise to inform the house that I was privy to a very interesting briefing from the Housing Industry Association this week. As Shadow Minister for Housing, it is of great concern to me that this government is once again inflicting on the people of Victoria its desire to tell people how to live. The HIA have great concerns that the changes to the building codes and regulations that this government will bring in in September are being done without a proper education campaign for the community. They have great concerns that people out in the community who have purchased blocks of land, who have made plans to build their dream home, are going to get to September—and as we all know there are great delays in the housing market at the moment—having begun to undertake the building of their new home, only to find that their dream home will no longer be able to be built. Some parcels of land, the HIA believe, will no longer be able to be built on because of the government’s new stringent 7-star rating that will prevent the building of houses on some blocks of land, particularly in a rural and regional electorate like mine in Polwarth, where people often build on hills with scenic views overlooking the ocean and things like that. This government is implementing restrictions on the size of your windows. Issues like that will potentially destroy the dreams and aspirations of so many Victorians. The government are obliged to inform people what they are up to.