The National Code sets minimum standards that businesses must meet to be eligible for certain Australian Government building and construction work.
The National Code Implementation Guidelines provide supporting detail on compliance requirements.
See other ABCC fact sheets to determine when the National Code applies and which set of Guidelines to use.
This fact sheet applies to all projects that were the subject of an expression of interest or tender let for the first time on or after 1 August 2009.
The ABCC has the primary responsibility for monitoring and promoting compliance with the National Code of Practice for the Construction Industry (National Code) and Australian Government Implementation Guidelines for the National Code (Guidelines).
The ABCC provides education and advice on the practical application of the National Code and Guidelines. It conducts site visits, inspections and audits and refers the results of these activities to the Code Monitoring Group (CMG).
Site visits
Site visits are short visits conducted by the ABCC. The purpose of a site visit is to establish contact and liaison with site management. This provides an opportunity for site management to gain information on their responsibilities under the National Code and Guidelines.
Site inspections
The purpose of an inspection is to promote awareness of the National Code and provide advice on compliance. Inspections include a review of on-site systems, behaviours, documents and processes and usually take three-to-four hours. The ABCC will report on the results of inspections to the CMG.
Audits
Audits are in-depth examinations of business systems and practices to ensure they are consistent with the National Code and Guidelines.
Prior notice of an audit is provided to the head contractor. Audits usually take three-to-four days but can vary depending on the size of the project. Audits typically involve:
On-site
- briefing site management on the audit process
- examining site records, including electronic records
- obtaining copies of relevant documents
- conducting a physical site inspection
- recording formal ‘records of conversation’ with selected personnel
- conducting a debriefing session with site management at the conclusion of the on-site audit process.
Off-site
- contacting selected subcontractors
- obtaining and reviewing documents such as time and wage records
- recording formal ‘records of conversation’ with selected subcontractors.
Reports
Reports are prepared for the government client agency, project manager, head contractor and subcontractors involved in the audit. Advice of the findings and suggested rectification of issues are reported to the government client agency. The ABCC will forward reports to the CMG.
Advice for building industry participants
It is important to keep records and documents that demonstrate efforts to be compliant with the National Code and Guidelines. This includes contracts, tender documents, industrial agreements, wage records and right of entry records.