iCIRT in NSW: Setting the Standard Before Legislation

NSW Leading the Way in Building Confidence

While the ACT recently made headlines for legislating iCIRT as part of its Property Developers Act, New South Wales has been laying the groundwork for years.

Through the Construct NSW initiative, led by the Office of the Building Commissioner, NSW has become the testing ground for iCIRT’s framework; embedding trust, accountability, and transparency across the construction and property development sector.

Even though iCIRT hasn’t yet been legislated in NSW, the system is already functioning as a de facto requirement for serious operators.

A Market-Led Shift Backed by Regulation

In NSW, reform started from the top. The Building Commissioner’s office introduced iCIRT to help identify capable and trustworthy developers, builders, and consultants. Moving the market away from self-declared competence to verified credibility.

Since its launch, iCIRT has become a key filter used by:

• Government agencies, when selecting developers for public or mixed-use projects
• Lenders and insurers, as part of their risk assessment frameworks
• Private developers, who prefer partnering with iCIRT-rated builders and consultants

The result? iCIRT is already driving cultural and behavioural change — without needing to be legislated (yet).

How iCIRT Fits Into the Construct NSW Reforms

The Construct NSW transformation program is built on six core pillars — capability, transparency, accountability, compliance, enforcement, and consumer confidence.

iCIRT ties directly into each one by providing:

• Capability verification through data-backed ratings
• Transparency via public registers of rated entities
• Accountability for those delivering projects
• Consumer protection by helping buyers choose trusted operators

It’s not just a rating system, it’s the trust engine that underpins the entire reform agenda.

Why Developers and Builders Are Getting Rated Early

Even without legislation, NSW developers and builders are choosing to get rated because they understand what’s coming:

• Procurement preference: Government and financiers increasingly ask for iCIRT verification.
• Market expectation: Consumers are starting to recognise iCIRT as a badge of trust.
• Future compliance: When legislation does arrive, early adopters will already be aligned.

Being rated now is a proactive, strategic move not a compliance task.

What Legislation Could Look Like in NSW

With the ACT now setting a precedent, it’s reasonable to expect that NSW will formalise iCIRT participation in some form of legislation or regulation in the near future.

If that happens, businesses already rated will have a major advantage. They’ll be familiar with the process, already meeting governance standards, and positioned as trusted leaders in the new regulatory environment.

In many ways, NSW doesn’t need to legislate iCIRT to make it effective as the market and regulators have already embraced it as standard practice.

What This Means for You

If you’re a developer, builder, or consultant operating in NSW:

• Now is the time to act. Early engagement with iCIRT ensures you’re not caught off-guard when requirements tighten.
• Treat rating readiness as a business upgrade. It strengthens your governance, improves your marketability, and aligns you with trusted operators.
• Use your rating strategically. Once achieved, your iCIRT score can enhance your credibility in tenders, funding applications, and project negotiations.

How iCIRT Advisory Can Help

At iCIRT Advisory, we’ve supported NSW developers, builders, and consultants through the rating journey from preparation and documentation to full rating readiness.

We understand how the Construct NSW reforms are evolving and how to align your business with future expectations.

Contact us to prepare your business for the next stage of NSW’s construction reform and secure your position as a trusted, rated operator.