The Senate inquiry into non-conforming building products has highlighted a “serious breakdown” in regulation and oversight.

The inquiry was launched after a blaze in November 2014 at the Lacrosse apartments in Melbourne’s Docklands, which was fuelled by cladding imported from China and not tested to Australian standards.

It has now lapsed due to the federal election campaign, but its interim report details “various areas of glaring weakness in the regulatory regime”.

The Economics References Committee says the inquiry must continue.

As well as flammable cladding, defective electrical cable and imported building products containing asbestos also pose significant risks.

“The committee supports a co-ordinated national approach to addressing the complex issues around non-conforming building products and encourages the Commonwealth, state and territory governments to take definitive action,” the report says.

Insurance Council of Australia GM Communications Campbell Fuller told insuranceNEWS.com.au the council “recognises there is a problem with product substitution in the building supplies industry, and would welcome any opportunity to assist governments to better understand the issues and implications”.

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