Discipline actions

When deciding the appropriate action, the BPC has the objective of ensuring that:

• building and plumbing practitioners comply with the legislative framework
• industry standards of competency and technical skills are maintained
• practitioner conduct meets reasonable community expectations
• practitioners are held accountable for their conduct
• the competitive advantage of non-compliance is removed.

We consider the need for:

• specific deterrence: deterring the individual from repeating specific behaviour
• general deterrence: deterring others within the industry from the same conduct
• public protection.

These objectives are explained in our Discipline policy.

Actions

Once a formal disciplinary process has taken place, there are a variety of disciplinary actions which may be imposed. These are published on our Compliance and Enforcement register.

Reprimands

A reprimand may be used as a formal expression of disapproval or condemnation of a practitioner’s conduct or non-compliance. They may be commonly used:

• as a progressive step to clarify expectations of practitioner performance or conduct, and to provide an opportunity for improvement
• to signal continuing behaviour could lead to more serious consequences
• when a non-compliance is not detrimental enough to require a financial penalty or suspension.
• in addition to suspensions or financial penalties, to highlight the underlying conduct.

Conditions

A condition may be applied to a practitioner’s registration or licence to protect consumers or uphold public safety. This may generally be done in cases where the conduct of concern is of a confined category and where the practitioner can otherwise continue to practise competently, with restrictions.

Exams, training or directions

The BPC may impose a requirement of successfully completing examinations or training, when the breach relates to a shortcoming in the practitioner’s competency or knowledge, to avoid future harm.

A direction may be issued to a building practitioner to take a specified action. Directions are generally used for limited purposes.

Financial penalties

The BPC may regularly impose financial penalties to reinforce accountability, eliminate unfair advantages from non-compliance, deter industry misconduct and build consumer trust by demonstrating that unacceptable conduct has consequences.

For more information, refer to Financial penalties.

Suspensions, cancellations and disqualifications

The BPC can immediately suspend a practitioner’s participation in the industry, for a fixed period, as a protective mechanism to the public, if they pose a current risk in areas such as health, safety, and financial harm.

Suspensions imposed as part of formal disciplinary action serve a corrective purpose, encouraging practitioners to reflect and improve their conduct, such as in technical, administrative, and professional practices.

Disqualifications can apply for similar reasons, for more serious breaches and conduct matters. For more information, refer to suspensions and cancellations.