Content
There is still no word from the Queensland Government on when expected changes to the Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997 (BCCM Act) will come into effect. The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Minister for Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, The Honourable Shannon Fentiman, released a media statement on 16th February 2023 outlining some of the changes including:
- Allowing for the termination of a community titles scheme with the support of 75 per cent of lot owners, where the body corporate has agreed it is more financially viable for lot owners to terminate rather than maintain or remediate the scheme.
- Bodies corporate would be able to prohibit smoking in outdoor and communal areas, to better protect residents from second hand smoke.
- Bodies corporate would be prevented from banning pets, except in specific circumstances. What “specific circumstances” means is still unclear, but we expect some areas such as tourist detinations or national parks may fall into this exemption.
- The package of reforms will also improve body corporate governance and management, including by making it easier for residents to lodge disputes, and expanding adjudicators’ powers.
- Allowing bodies corporate to tow vehicles which are preventing access or causing a hazard.
The media release was short on detail and timeframes, and some of the more contentious changes raised during the consulation process such as changes to management rights contract terms and the licensing of body corporate managers was not mentioned. The Minister stated “consultation on the draft legislation will occur this year“.
She did state in her statement “This is the first of two planned packages of reform for body corporate legislation in Queensland. I intend to introduce the second package of reforms before the end of the year“.
And so we wait.
You can read the Minister’s statement here.
