Demerit point
A demerit point is a penalty recorded against a builder's licence after a disciplinary decision. The ACT uses a demerit scheme to manage repeat offending.
Ask Chalkline about this →A demerit point is a penalty recorded against a licence holder’s record following a disciplinary decision by a regulator. Points accumulate over a rolling period; reaching a specified threshold triggers automatic licence suspension, cancellation, or disqualification.
In the ACT, the Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004 (ACT) includes a demerit point scheme for all construction occupation licence holders (builders, electricians, plumbers, and others). Accumulating 15 or more demerit points in any rolling 3-year period triggers automatic licence suspension or disqualification proceedings. The disciplinary register is publicly searchable and lists practitioners with adverse outcomes for 10 years (verified 2026-05-08, ACT Planning: Compliance and disciplinary action).
The demerit point scheme is also the reason construction occupations are exempt from Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR) in the ACT: because the scheme does not operate across state borders, the ACT Government holds a significant risk exemption preventing AMR from applying to builders until at least July 2027.
Also known as: demerit points.
Category: Licensing and compliance.
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Last updated: 2026-05-08. Verified: 2026-05-08. Quarterly review for currency.