WorkSafe has charged the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) with breaches of the Occupational Health and Safety Act after an inspector took their own life in May 2022.

VBA was charged with recklessly engaging in conduct that placed a person at a workplace in danger of serious injury, and failing to provide a workplace that was safe and without risks to health. 

The matter is listed for a filing hearing at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on October 26.

WorkSafe alleges the regulator continued to pursue performance and redundancy processes while aware this may have placed the inspector at risk of psychological injury, and refused to transfer the inspector to a different supervisor.

It is alleged VBA failed to provide an adequate system to reduce the risk of workplace related stress and psychological injury, including anxiety and depression.

In May, Sue Eddy resigned from her role as VBA CEO as the regulator came under heavy scrutiny after the collapse of builder Porter Davis, which did not obtain mandatory builders’ warranty insurance for hundreds of customers.

"It can’t continue operating the way it has been. It has got to be better,” then Premier Dan Andrews said of the VBA.

Anna Cronin was appointed VBA CEO in August.