On 23 June 2015, the Senate referred an inquiry into non-conforming building products to the Senate Economics References Committee for inquiry, with particular reference to:

1. the economic impact of non-conforming building products on the Australian building and construction industry;

2. the impact of non-conforming building products on:

   1. industry supply chains, including importers, manufacturers and fabricators,

   2. workplace safety and any associated risks,

   3. costs passed on to customers, including any insurance and compliance costs, and

   4. the overall quality of Australian buildings;

3. possible improvements to the current regulatory frameworks for ensuring that building products conform to Australian standards, with particular reference to the effectiveness of:

   1. policing and enforcement of existing regulations,

   2. independent verification and assessment systems,

   3. surveillance and screening of imported building products, and

   4. restrictions and penalties imposed on non-conforming building products; and

4. any other related matters.

Additional terms of reference—asbestos

On 13 October 2016, as part of its broader inquiry, the committee resolved to inquire into the illegal importation of products containing asbestos. The committee determined that it would report on this matter by 28 April 2017. The committee adopted the following additional terms of reference for this part of the inquiry:

The illegal importation of products containing asbestos and its impact on the health and safety of the Australian community, with particular reference to:

1. the prevalence and sources of illegally imported products containing asbestos;

2. the effect of illegally imported products containing asbestos on:

   1. industry supply chains, including importers, manufacturers and fabricators, and

   2. workplace and public safety and any associated risks;

3. possible improvements to the current regulatory frameworks for ensuring products containing asbestos are not illegally imported to Australia, with particular reference to the effectiveness of:

   1. policing, enforcement, surveillance and screening of imported products, including restrictions and penalties imposed on importers and end users of products containing asbestos;

   2. preventing exposure and protecting the health and safety of workers and other people affected by the illegal importation of products containing asbestos,

   3. establishing responsibility for remediation of sites where illegally imported products containing asbestos has been found;

   4. coordination between Commonwealth, state and territory governments and the role of the Australian Government in coordinating a strategic approach to preventing the importation of products containing asbestos;

4. any other related matters.