North-Eastern Metropolitan Region
Richard WELCH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (13:05): (1724) My constituency question is for the Minister for Housing and Building. It has come to my attention that the Knox City Council in my electorate has been banning or severely limiting Scouts and Girl Guides from conducting sleepovers in their own buildings, in their own halls. I am advised that the council’s position is that these halls are considered class 9B – places of assembly – under the National Construction Code, and overnight accommodation is not allowed unless exorbitant surveyor fees on each and every occasion, up to $1400, are paid. This is despite the Scouts covering all compliance and insurance. This is clearly not the intention of the law, and it is deeply concerning that local government surveyors have, out of the blue, unilaterally decided to reinterpret the act. Could I please ask the minister to intervene and give Knox council and any other councils clear direction that this is not the purpose of the law?