Security of Payment in Australia, state by state
Every Australian state and territory has its own Security of Payment Act. Each one gives builders, subcontractors, and suppliers a statutory right to claim and recover progress payments, with the timeframes owners and head contractors must work to. Pick a jurisdiction for the detail.
Choose your jurisdiction
Security of Payment by state and territory
NSW
East-coast modelNew South Wales
Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW)
Administered by Building Commission NSW.
Read the NSW guide →Victoria
East-coast modelVictoria
Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002 (Vic)
Administered by the Victorian Building Authority (VBA).
Read the Victoria guide →Queensland
East-coast modelQueensland
Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Act 2017 (Qld)
Administered by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC).
Read the Queensland guide →Western Australia
East-coast modelWestern Australia
Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2021 (WA)
Administered by Building and Energy, within the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.
Read the Western Australia guide →South Australia
East-coast modelSouth Australia
Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2009 (SA)
Administered by the South Australian Small Business Commission.
Read the South Australia guide →Tasmania
East-coast modelTasmania
Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2009 (Tas)
Administered by Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS).
Read the Tasmania guide →ACT
East-coast modelThe Australian Capital Territory
Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2009 (ACT)
Administered by the ACT Government City and Environment Directorate (Planning).
Read the ACT guide →NT
West-coast modelThe Northern Territory
Construction Contracts (Security of Payments) Act 2004 (NT)
Administered by the Construction Contracts Registrar.
Read the NT guide →BuildFair
How BuildFair fits alongside Security of Payment
Security of Payment is a recovery process you reach for after a payment has already gone wrong. BuildFair works earlier. Project funds sit outside the builder's operating account and are released against the agreed rules, so approved work has a clear path to payment in the first place. Whichever side of the contract you are on, the same ringfenced funds and shared payment record work in your favour.
Builders
Fund jobs without bankrolling them
Run the project off ringfenced funds, so approved progress claims and subcontractor invoices have money behind them before a dispute ever starts.
For builders →Owners
See where your money sits
Your progress payments are released only against work you have approved, with a live record of every claim and payment on the job.
For owners →Subcontractors
Know the funds are there
Approved invoices are paid from money already set aside for the project, on a fixed clock, not whenever cashflow allows.
For subcontractors →Suppliers
Get paid from set-aside funds
Invoice through the project and be paid from funds ringfenced for the job, with a clean record behind every payment.
For suppliers →