Failure to appoint a principal contractor

Harmonised jurisdictions

There is no obligation to appoint a principal contractor and the harmonised legislation provides that, absent the engagement of another PCBU as the principal contractor, the PCBU that commissions the project is the default principal contractor. There are otherwise no consequences for failing to appoint a principal contractor.

Victoria

If an owner fails to appoint a principal contractor, the owner is taken to be the principal contractor.

Western Australia

Not applicable.