Charlestown Apartment Under Inquiry

BY ALICE PEART

A Charlestown apartment has come under the spotlight in a NSW parliamentary inquiry into building standards.

The controversial apartment known as 'The Landmark' is anticipated to cost residents four-hundred-thousand dollars each to repair building defects which were discovered soon after it opened in 2008.

The strata owners have said many of the doors and windows in the building do not meet Australian standards, that cladding has been incorrectly installed, standard insulation lacking and corrosion issues apparent.

Chair of the inquiry David Shoebridge said many parts of the building are simply unlivable and that it was a microcosm of weaknesses in building regulations across the state.

"Inadequate insurance coverage, developers which have gone into liquidation and aren't available to claim against.

And at the end of the day, a whole lot of pressures and a whole lot of difficult arrangements between the strata owners as they try to collectively pool the money to fix what can be financially crippling defects", Mr Shoebridge said speaking to 2nurfm today.

The inquiry will be focusing on the role of private certification in the adequacy of building standards.

Current regulatory standards require developers to pay private certifiers; a system which the 2018 Shergold-Weir report found to be a conflict of interest.

NSW laws do hold developers liable for costs in structural defects but with many companies  liquidating after the completion of a project residents are unable to make claims.

If Hunter residents have experienced any of these issues they are encouraged to fill out the inquiry's online questionnaire or to make a submission.

Pressure mounts on convicted Archbishop to step down

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Greens MP for Justice, David Shoebridge is addressing parliament today over what he's labelled the shocking response of the Catholic Church over a Newcastle Court's conviction of a senior clergyman.

Adelaide Archbishop, Philip Wilson was on Tuesday found guilty of concealing the abuse of four boys in the Hunter during the 1970s by late paedophile priest James Fletcher.

Abuse survivor advocates have slammed statements from Archbishop Wilson and the Church which announced his step down from duties but not a relinquishment of his title.

They believe the Church's prayers for those who "shared their stories" during the trial, displays no regret or remorse for Wilson's actions.

David Shoebridge is calling on state parliament to admit the Church has not only failed victims historically but is failing survivors now in 2018.

"I can't imagine any other workplace or organisation that would see one of their senior leaders convicted of the crime of concealing child sex offences and continue to have a position of authority," Mr Shoebridge said.

"Of course there should be a defrocking process started," he said, "it shouldn't have just started at the time of the conviction, the Church should've had the measures in place for as soon as a conviction was announced."

Mr Shoebridge believes it's not good enough for parliament to adopt some of the recommendations of the December report of the Royal Commission, but rather, reform is needed across the criminal justice system to ensure religious institutions cannot access mitigation such as the Ellis defence.

The Ellis defence stems from a 2007 case in the NSW Court of Appeal which saw abuse survivor John Ellis lose his case to access compensation from the Church, as trustees were held not to be liable for the crimes of individuals operating in the organisation.

Pressure is now mounting on Philip Wilson to stand down from the Archbishophood, which, in a statement, he promised to do "if it becomes necessary or appropriate."

Philip Wilson leaves Newcastle Local Court. Image: ABC.