Construction Law Update June 2018

75 minutes  26.06.2018 Richard Crawford

The themes in our June 2018 edition neatly encapsulate, for our industry, the following imminent advancements and instructive reminders of business practices.

We explore the continuing framework development to adapt to automated vehicles on roads; the gathering pace of the implementation of Victorian's building regulation changes; and consider the latest news as to when changes to Queensland's security of payment regime will occur. Included too are decisions from the ACT, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania regarding statutory building warranties, contract formation, limitation periods, contract administration, termination of contract, recourse to security, rectification of defects, and the management of disputes.

We also look at the decisions of the Court of Appeal in Western Australia regarding the adjudication determinations from the Samsung v Duro disputes in the Roy Hill project.

Your June 2018 edition is now available. You can also access past editions.

Legislative update

Commonwealth

  • Changing Driving Laws to Support Automated Vehicles  | National Transport Commission Policy Paper

Queensland

  • Queensland's new security of payment regime delayed until December 2018  | Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Bill 2017 (Qld)

Victoria

  • Changes to the Victorian Building Act and new Building Regulations  | Building Amendment (Enforcement and Other Measures) Act 2017 (Vic) and Building Regulations 2018 (Vic)

In the Australian courts

Australian Capital Territory

  • ACT builder still liable for substandard work over a decade after building completed  | Koundouris v The Owners - Units Plan No 1917 [2017] ACTCA 36

New South Wales

  • Residential building contractors: Be certain who you are contracting with  | AJ Gouros Investments Pty Ltd trading as Adelaide Concrete Polishing & Grinding Pty Ltd v Pongraz [2018] NSWCATAP 129
  • Costs of applying to set aside an adjudication determination - competent junior counsel would have sufficed  | Brefni Pty Ltd v Specific Industries Pty Ltd [2018] NSWSC 578
  • Supporting statements – when is service of a payment claim rendered invalid?  | Central Projects Pty Ltd v Davidson [2018] NSWSC 523
  • 'Businesslike and sensible' – How termination clauses are likely to be interpreted  | D.R. Design (NSW) Pty Limited v Grand City International Development Pty Ltd [2017] NSWSC 1778
  • ‘Based on the above’ is only a valid basis for awarding a claim if there is a proper evaluation above  | Laing O’Rourke Australia Construction Pty Ltd v Monford Group Pty Ltd [2018] NSWSC 491
  • Owner builders can fix defects too  | Leung v Alexakis [2018] NSWCATAP 11

Queensland

  • Implied term that bank guarantee will not expire prior to the defects liability period  | Bose v Muggeridge Constructions Pty Ltd [2018] QDC 75
  • Fail to reveal information about a company in financial difficulty? Beware of non-party costs  | Murphy v Mackay Labour Hire Pty Ltd [2018] QCA 90
  • Making an application to strike out or for summary judgment? Know the rules! A UCPR refresher  | Ockendon & Anor v Ryan & Ors [2018] QDC 94
  • Strict compliance with performance security instrument essential for payment  | Santos Limited v BNP Paribas [2018] QSC 105

Tasmania

  • Statutory construction – importance of purpose of objects of the statue and the legislative history and context  | Webster v Leighton [2018] TASSC 22

Victoria

  • Contractual clauses unable to limit statutory periods for misleading and deceptive cases  | Brighton Australia Pty Ltd v Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd [2018] VSC 246
  • A right to have recourse to security turns on the particular facts in each case  | Orange Building Solutions Pty Ltd v Inkerman Property Group Pty Ltd (Building and Property) [2018] VCAT 696
  • Minor defects and non-compliances will not necessarily prevent a stage of construction being achieved so as to disentitle a builder to a progress payment  | Sightway Construction Pty Ltd v Jayasinghe (Building and Property) [2018] VCAT 676
  • Multiple payment claims under one reference date – new or replacement claim?  | Valeo Construction Pty Ltd v Pentas Property Investments Pty Limited [2018] VSC 243

Western Australia

  • WA courts have the power to sever parts of adjudication determinations affected by jurisdictional errorDuro Felguera Australia Pty Ltd v Samsung C&T Corporation [2018] WASCA 28
  • Adjudicator's power to make determinations over 'hybrid' contractsSamsung C&T Corporation v Duro Felguera Australia Pty Ltd [2018] WASCA 27
  • Implied provisions in the CCA can only be implied into construction contracts to the extent that specific provisions are absent from the contract  | Total Eden Pty Ltd v Charteris [2018] WASC 60

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