The building services legislation sets out the obligations that registered painters must adhere to. These obligations are outlined in Building and Energy’s painting contactors fact sheet.

Building and Energy is continuing to carry out proactive, random painting inspections.  The purpose of the inspections is to monitor how well painting work is being carried out and how well painting standards are being applied.  Moving forward, Building and Energy will work more closely with the painter following an inspection and share our observations on how the painting work can be improved.

The specific objectives of the program are:

• monitor whether painting work is performed in accordance with a class of registration;
• monitor whether a registered painting contractor complies with his or her registration obligations;
• provide advice and assistance to registered painting contractors and practitioners;
• take action to rectify non-compliant painting work;
• make recommendations to improve compliance; and
• refer serious non-compliance for enforcement action. 

In addition to providing individual feedback, Building and Energy will publish general inspection reports that detail its observations. 

In the 2021–22, 64 proactive, random general inspections of painting and coating work were carried out. Common workmanship issues observed through general inspection activities and disputes lodged with Building and Energy for that period revealed the most common areas of unsatisfactory painting work were inadequately prepared surfaces and poorly applied paint, including the use of paint with embedded debris or unsuitable paint for the surface. A general inspection report detailing Building and Energy’s observations is currently being drafted.

Allegations of unregistered painting work are referred to Enforcement Branch for consideration and possible investigation.