What happened
The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) prosecuted Rhys David Goodall for carrying out unlicensed building work. Goodall was convicted and fined $10,500 in the Cairns Magistrates Court.
The work involved constructing a concrete driveway at a Millaa Millaa property between 17 December 2022 and 20 January 2023. The contract value was $11,154. Goodall did not hold a QBCC licence when carrying out this work.
In addition to the fine, Goodall was ordered to pay $1,159.40 in compensation to the home owner for incomplete work.
The prosecution followed a home owner complaint lodged in April 2023.
The licence requirement in Queensland
In Queensland, anyone doing residential building work valued at more than $3,300 is required to hold a valid QBCC licence. The QBCC states there are no exceptions to this rule.
Impact on home owners
The QBCC states that unlicensed building work cuts home owners off from the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme. The Queensland Home Warranty Scheme is described as the safety net available when licensed building work goes wrong.
Key actions
- Contractors can verify that their QBCC licence is current and covers the type of work being performed using the QBCC Licensee Register at qbcc.qld.gov.au before taking on any job valued over $3,300.
- Home owners hiring a contractor for residential building work can look up the contractor on the QBCC Licensee Register at qbcc.qld.gov.au - the register shows licence type, status, and any past fines or rectification directions.
- The QBCC Home Owner Hub at qbcc.qld.gov.au provides guidance on finding a licensed contractor, deposit limits, contract requirements, and the home warranty scheme across all five stages of building or renovating.
- Suspected unlicensed building work can be reported by lodging a complaint with the QBCC at qbcc.qld.gov.au.
This is a plain-English summary for information only, not legal or compliance advice. Always check the official source or consult a qualified professional.