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ZEBRA AUSTRALIA (ZA) is a support network dedicated to protecting homebuilders and renovators from, and exposing, unacceptable, irregular, irresponsible, illegal, unsafe, inadequate and/or incompetent practices in the building industry.
 
ZA is concerned about the number of homebuilders and renovators who are being poorly served by the industry and who are largely unprotected from its sometimes high levels of incompetence, its all too frequent negligent and suspect behaviours, its poor service delivery and its excesses in general. All of these things cost homeowners dearly!
 
The network is in its infancy and its membership is currently focused upon working towards assisting 'homemakers' realise their ambitions unhindered by the excesses and/or negligence of those elements in ‘the industry' – lawmakers, builders, service providers, developers, bureaucrats and others – who are careless of homemaker’s and homebuilder’s needs.
 
ZA is operating from a base that is mindful of the fact that as one set of issues is resolved others will present themselves. As this unfolds the network’s reason for being is bound to shift. Notwithstanding, success will be achieved when the issues currently facing some (all too many) homemakers and homebuilders no longer need to cooperate as now simply to achieve justice.
 
Why the name 'Zebra', well "a zebra is a very distinctive creature but if it moves in a herd it's less likely to be preyed upon,''
 

Since the announcement of Zebra Australia our network has received a constant flow of letters from consumers and at this stage our collective observations and findings are:

  • Many consumers are babes in the wood against the experience of builders in disputes;
   
  •  They hand over a family’s dreams, savings, future earnings, and welcome builders into their homes – they need to trust, and indeed, they want to trust their builder;
   
  •  They look to membership of associations for reassurance when selecting a builder.


 
All too often builders’ duty of care is not taken seriously. Thus ZA believes that Govt intervention is required to protect consumers who just can’t afford to trust Associations to self regulate their industry, and who certainly can’t stand up to the resources of builders in a legal battle.
 
The high incidence of building disputes demands attention at the highest level. ZA aims to alert consumers yet to embark on a renovation /building project to stop and look again, until consumer protection is improved. There is no doubt that there are many good builders who also work ethically, but unfortunately many consumers are not able to discern who they are. Clearly, awards, publicity demonstrates to consumers that:
  •  Builders can self promote very well;
   
  •  Holding high office and memberships of industry bodies and associations simply show that the builder is interested in attending meetings yet sadly these things give no real guidance in regard to integrity.

 
Consumer protection has been so poor for so long that the culture of the industry is to ‘blame the victim’. Disputes are so prevalent that builders are expert at handling ill-equipped consumers. Builders start collecting protective evidence from the outset in case the consumer becomes ‘difficult’ – meanwhile the unsuspecting consumer is making them cups of tea.
 
Sadly, most consumers have no hope of becoming experts in the building industry because one building disaster is all they can ever afford in a lifetime. That’s why they need to find some collective power, and that’s why Zebra Australia has been set up. The dispute resolution process in Australia is a lame duck and it leaves far too many homebuilders and renovators (homemakers!) in a desperate position – and typically through no fault of their own.