I want to begin by saying that my heart goes out to every individual and family who has been impacted by a builder and any failed system that there appears to be no procedural fairness or justice. 

Speaking personally, my own experience has been truly devastating. Yet, through this hardship, I have had the privilege of people contacting me and who share similar experiences. Together—through phone calls, emails, and mutual support—we have found strength in each other during what has otherwise been an incredibly isolating and overwhelming journey. This sense of solidarity is the one silver lining in what has otherwise felt like a very dark storm.

Many of us began this process questioning ourselves—how we could have been misled, how our trust was so misplaced, and why the protections we believed were in place for homeowners seemed absent when we needed them most. The emotional, financial, and physical toll has been severe—comparable to the aftermath of a natural disaster, leaving lives, homes, and finances in pieces.

I have been contacted by 20+ people from my builder alone; these individuals and their experiences represent so much more than numbers. Each story extends to families, friends, businesses, and communities whose lives have been disrupted or damaged. Among them are single parents, widows, families with disabled children, first home buyers, veterans, and people living with health challenges. Sadly, many are now facing worsened health and financial instability as a direct result of these events.

My petition, “Be the Change – QBCC Reform”, was not created for myself alone, but for all Queensland homeowners, trades, and subcontractors who have been let down by a system that allows unethical operators—large or small—to exploit without accountability. This behaviour not only harms homeowners but also tarnishes the reputation of honest builders, tradespeople, and subcontractors who work hard to uphold integrity in the industry.

Currently, Master Builders and similar organisations advocate for builders. But who truly advocates for the homeowner? From my experience, the answer is no one. Homeowners are left to navigate a system that does not uphold procedural fairness or natural justice, legislation that provides the regulator itself with loopholes, and a justice pathway that is slow, backlogged, and places the burden of proof unfairly on the homeowner to prove under the banner of 'without reasonable doubt'. Meanwhile, builders are effectively granted protections “on the balance of probabilities.”

This imbalance cannot continue. Reform is urgently needed—not only for those already harmed but to protect every future homeowner and safeguard the integrity of the building industry in Queensland.

With sincerity and hope for change.

I encourage each person on this petition to have one family member, friend, neighbour, tradesman to sign this petition; because without a strong voice to those who can change the system, legislation and accountability it might be you, your child, family, friends or neighbour.  The impacts are so far reaching we need there to be advocates and procedural for everyone.