Recently I met a young man working at Bunnings whom I did not immediately recognise but he knew me and said Hello. As it happened he was a student in building surveying in the same class five years earlier. We both completed a Diploma of Building Surveying and he went on to become registered building inspector and went on to work for building surveying firms. Unfortunately he became disillusioned, quit his job and let his registration lapse. When I asked him why, this is what he told me.

He was constantly pressurised by his boss to inspect and approve building work that was either incomplete or partially defective.

Every time he tried to be conscientious he was harassed.

In his words ” it was nothing to do with building inspections, it was all about the dollar”

Instead of letting himself become corrupted, he told his boss where to go and quit his job.

I applaud him for his character, decency and integrity yet at the same time I feel saddened that decent people cannot fit in the system.

I have no reason to doubt his story because I too was told by Building Surveyor not to “rock the boat” and I too told him where to go.  I have seen instances of a corrupt/incompetent inspection system hundreds of times.

The root of the problem was correctly identified by The Auditor General in his report that heavily criticised Building Commission for a system of building control in which conflict of interest can and does arise.

Building Surveyors in theory are supposed to be independent but in reality they rely on builders bringing work to them. So if they are too hard on the builder then the builder will simply find a softie.

You then find decent people who are pressurised to make compromises. Their integrity gradually pilfered away they become corrupt and don’t care, caring only about the dollar.

Or they tell their boss where to go!

I have lot more to tell you, stay tuned.