Queensland Building Services Authority v Chandra & Anor

In the matter of Queensland Building Services Authority v Chandra [2013] QCAT 628, the Applicant, the Queensland Building Services Authority, commenced disciplinary proceedings against the Respondent, Mr Suresh Chandra, a former private certifier. The Applicant submitted that Mr Chandra had engaged in professional misconduct by certifying works without ensuring they complied with the Building Act 1975 and associated regulations. The Respondent did not contest the allegations made against him. The Court found that Mr Chandra's obligations went beyond simply inspecting the internal works of the property, and included ensuring the conversion of a Class 10a to a Class 1a complied with all applicable building laws, regulations, and codes. The Court found that Mr Chandra's conduct was incompetent and lacking in integrity, and compromised the amenity of Mr Niessl's property for some considerable time and put Mr Niessl and his family to considerable inconvenience and expense. The Court found there were proper grounds for taking disciplinary action against Mr Chandra. The Court ordered that Mr Chandra never be re-licensed as a building certifier by the QBSA, pay a penalty to the QBSA in the amount of $10,000, pay the complainant, Mr Niessl, the sum of $44,522.31, and pay interest of $7,500 on the said sum.