The State’s building industry regulator says 9,017 new licensees were approved by the QBCC in the 2021-2022 financial year, an increase of more than 1,200 on the previous financial year.
Meanwhile, the first five months of the 2022-2023 financial year, (1 July to 30 November 2022), has seen 3,264 applications approved for individuals or companies not previously licensed with the QBCC, taking the total number of licensed tradies in the State to 113,724.
QBCC Commissioner, Anissa Levy, says the increase in the number of licensees will provide reassurance to home owners.
“Home owners who hire a licensed contractor can have confidence their work will be done by a qualified and experienced professional,’’ Ms Levy says.
“Anyone considering hiring a contractor should always make sure they are licensed with the QBCC.
“Licensees play an important role in carrying out quality building work to the appropriate standards to ensure the safety of all Queenslanders.”
The QBCC website provides free information to help home and property owners choose a qualified, licensed local contractor.
2022 was a busy year for the QBCC, which was quick to offer information and assistance to Queenslanders following the devastating and widespread flooding events in February.
The QBCC established an online Recover and Rebuild Tradie Register to connect property owners with local licensed contractors in the wake of the floods.
In the 2021-2022 financial year, QBCC officers also proactively inspected more than 1,300 active projects to help reduce defective work and identify potentially risky or dangerous products, to better protect the safety of consumers and building industry participants.
Meanwhile, the QBCC Contact Centre received more than 2,000 calls in relation to a temporary, independent mediation service which was launched in July 2021.
The Accelerated Builder/Consumer Dispute (ABCD) Framework, jointly launched by the QBCC and the Department of Energy and Public Works, assists property owners, builders and tradespeople navigating delays and cost imposts due to Australia-wide industry shortages.
To date, there have been 105 applications regarding industry shortages, with just one case still pending.
BACKGROUND
The breakdown of new licensees by region for both the 2021-22 Financial Year and from 1 July 2022 to 30 November 2022 is below:
New licencees
| Region | 2021-22 FY | July to November 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Brisbane | 4380 | 1536 |
| Cairns | 371 | 125 |
| Gold Coast | 998 | 351 |
| Interstate | 693 | 328 |
| Mackay | 203 | 90 |
| Maryborough | 289 | 125 |
| Northern NSW | 110 | 38 |
| Rockhampton | 270 | 86 |
| Sunshine Coast | 882 | 346 |
| Toowoomba | 466 | 149 |
| Townsville | 355 | 90 |
| Total | 9017 | 3264 |