Minister denies transition on engineered stone for consumers and business

"The transition was put forward at a meeting of national WHS Minister's to allow businesses to fulfill contracts that had been written before the ban was announced," said Greg Weller, HIA Executive Director ACT/Sthn NSW.

"The agreed transition allows a period of six months after the ban takes place on 1 July 2024 for these pre-existing contracts to be fulfilled. It will be in place in NSW and other states, and is a pragmatic and sensible approach.

"The Minister is seriously underestimating the impost this will put on the community and industry.

"During the December 2023 quarter (before the ban was announced), the ACT approved 294 detached homes and 1,887 townhouses and apartments. The vast majority of the detached homes, and none of the multi-residential, will have benchtops installed by 30 June.

"That is potentially over two thousand building and sales contracts that will be varied. The consequence being an increase in prices for consumers and significant administrative burden for small business.

"With NSW supporting the transition period, it will be absurd that contracts will be able to be honoured across the border but not in the ACT.

"We take worker safety very seriously and with the ACT having the toughest laws in the country to manage the risks of respirable crystalline silica, we believe that a safe and fair transition can be achieved," concluded Mr Weller.