A regulatory transformation case study in construction : past tense and future perfect

New South Wales's (NSW) recent construction regulatory transformation may be an instructive example of Australia's journey toward built environment quality. Until recently, it appeared to be declining. The government and industry published numerous studies focused on several areas, including economics, workforce and quality-of-life; however, these two groups seemed paralysed about the path forward. Therefore, root causes of poor building outcomes emerged. Subsequently, two highly visible apartment buildings were discovered to have many structural, operational and other defects in 2018-19. From this point, a strong focus on improving the industry has steadily occurred, starting in the apartment sector. However, the activity and personality of the Building Commissioner seem to have been the needed catalyst for transformation. This paper documents the journey, using disaster recovery concepts to clarify and draw lessons from these failures. This case study offers approaches and solutions to a state government's reaction that could inform other regulators nationwide.