URGENT BILL TO BAN FLAMMABLE CLADDING

The Senate will today debate the urgent bill that former senator Nick Xenophon introduced last year to put a total ban on the importation of combustible aluminium cladding. 

The Customs Amendment (Safer Cladding) Bill 2017was introduced following the release of a damning interim report by a Senate Economics Committee Inquiry into Non-Conforming Building Products in the Australian building and construction industry. The trigger for that inquiry was the 2015 fire at the Lacrosse apartment block in Melbourne which also had aluminium cladding fixed to the interior. 

The Senate inquiry heard disturbing evidence that dangerous and non-compliant goods were coming into the country undetected and, in some cases, with false or forged compliance documents.

If passed, the bill would prevent the importation of these products containing flammable polyethylene core aluminium composite panels (ACP), which have also been blamed for the Grenfell Tower inferno in London last July.

"This type of cladding is a most serious public safety issue that requires urgent action to prevent any risk of a Grenfell-type tragedy here in Australia," said Senator Patrick. "This bill provides that urgent action."

"Builders are consciously cutting costs by using these panels, saving only about $3 per square metre, and as a result, putting a small profit ahead of lives."

The Advertiser revealed through documents obtained under Freedom of Information that in Adelaide's CBD 140 buildings had facades that were possibly clad with ACP, 45 buildings with entry canopies that were possibly clad and 10 buildings under construction that had indications of ACP cladding.

Just five days ago, The Advertiser also reported that city buildings greater than 25 metres tall are suspected to contain potentially flammable cladding. Identified buildings that were reported as needing further investigation include the new Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide Oval, the Adelaide Convention Centre, the Riverside Office Building and the Colonel Light Centre building.

"Addressing the risks associated with non-conforming building products is an ongoing issue, and this bill represents just one piece of the puzzle – but it is so important that we don’t leave the issue of fire safety to good luck," said Rex.