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Queensland stays silent on Gold Coast cladding probe

The Queensland Government has refused to confirm reports that two Gold Coast buildings have been found to contain non-compliant flammable cladding, which has been blamed for high-rise apartment fires in Melbourne and across the world.

A government spokesman says allegations of non-conforming building products are taken “very seriously”, but cases are treated confidentially.

The state handles all allegations through its building certification system and regulatory framework.

“The issue of non-conforming building products is a complex one and responses to potential instances require a careful, considered and objective approach,” a Department of Housing and Public Works spokesman told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

“In order to ensure the integrity and impartiality of how particular cases are addressed, these matters are treated in confidence.

“The department cannot comment on allegations as this could undermine the integrity and impartiality of how particular cases are addressed.”

Non-compliant cladding materials imported from China were found to be partly responsible for a devastating blaze at Melbourne’s Lacrosse apartments in November 2014.

The blaze triggered the Victorian Building Association to carry out an audit of 170 Melbourne buildings, which found 51% of them used cladding materials that did not meet Australian standards.