Reference date
The reference date is when a contractor can first serve a progress claim under Security of Payment Acts: the contract date or last day of each month if not specified.
Ask Chalkline about this →The reference date is the date on or after which a contractor or subcontractor is entitled to serve a progress claim under the Security of Payment Acts. Under the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW), the reference date is either the date stated in the contract for making claims, or (if the contract does not specify one) the last day of each calendar month (verified 2026-05-10, NSW Government, Making a payment claim).
Only one progress claim can be made per reference date. Miss the window and the next reference date (the following month end, or next contractual claim date) is the earliest the claim can be served. Getting the reference date right is the starting point for any adjudication pathway: a claim served before the reference date is invalid.
Category: Contracts & commercial.
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Last updated: 2026-05-10. Verified: 2026-05-10. Quarterly review for currency.