Commercial Construction Contracts In Queensland

Article Summary

Commercial Construction Contracts in Queensland should clearly identify who is contracting, what work and design each party must deliver, how changes are priced, when completion is due, and what happens if payment or performance fails. Queensland law also controls parts of the bargain.

A commercial building contract cannot defer a progress payment beyond 15 business days after a payment claim; a subcontract or construction management trade contract has a separate 25-business-day limit.

A respondent disputing a payment claim must usually provide a payment schedule by the earlier contractual deadline or 15 business days after receiving it.

The article explains how to administer those deadlines, preserve variation and delay claims, manage retention and defects, and avoid an unjustified suspension or termination. It uses Mann v Paterson Constructions and Probuild v Shade Systems to show why agreed payment procedures and timely dispute responses matter.