BDPS News

The BDPS News is the quarterly publication of the Building Dispute Practitioners Society Inc. containing papers and articles relating to construction law, case notes, and items of interest to members of the BDPS. The BDPS News focuses on Victoria but articles and case notes relating to other Australian States, and overseas jurisdictions, are also featured. In recent years papers and articles have included the following:

• 'Proportionate Liability in Construction Claims', Justice David Byrne (Issue 24 - September 2006)
• 'Some Techniques and Strategies for Mediations in Construction Cases', George Golvan QC, (Issue 23 - June 2006)
• 'Liquidated Damages and Relief against Forfeiture', John Digby QC, (Issue 22 - March 2006)
• 'Temporary Disconformity', Prof Anthony Lavers and Ellis Baker, (Issue 21 - November 2005)
• 'Expert Witnesses and Lawyers, Managing the Relationship', Jim Delaney SC, (Issue 19 - March 2005)
• 'Keeping Water Out of Buildings', Ric Bonaldi, (Issue 17 - June 2004)
• 'Necessity, Reasonableness and Intention to Rebuild', Chris Fenwick, (Issue 16 - March 2004)
• 'VCAT Discussion Night', Justice Stuart Morris, (Issue 15 - December 2003)
• 'Stay Applications Under Section 53 of the Commercial Arbitration Act', Peter Megens (Issue 15 - December 2003)
• 'Reminiscences of a Building Judge', Hon Terence Cole, (Issue - 13 July 2003)

The BDPS News is a valued reference for construction lawyers, consultants and those involved in the resolution of building disputes. Copies are only available to current financial members of the BDPS. Samples in PDF format are available for download by clicking on the following links:

The current Editor is Andrew Kincaid, of the Victorian Bar, who can be contacted on 03 9225 6827 or on email akincaid@vicbar.com.au.

Readers are invited to submit material to the Editor to be considered for publication. Suitable material may consist of correspondence, articles or case notes, news of forthcoming events, book reviews, or other matters of interest to members of the Building Dispute Practitioners Society Inc. All material should be forwarded by email or disk in final form in Microsoft Word format with all quotations clearly indicated and referenced. Upon publication copyright in any material submitted will vest in the Building Dispute Practitioners Society Inc.

The Building Dispute Practitioners' Society Inc. Essay Prize

1. The Committee of the BDPS has approved an essay prize in the sum of AU$3,000.00 to be called the Building Dispute Practitioners' Society Inc. Essay Prize, or the BDPS Prize.
   
2. The BDPS Prize will be awarded annually to the author/s of an original essay on construction law, building disputes or closely related topics, which has been published in the BDPS News during the 12 months prior to the BDPS Annual Dinner in June each year.
3. The following eligibility criteria apply for the BDPS Prize:
   • The essay must be an original and substantial work of no more than approximately 5,000 words.
   • The essay must not have been submitted for and/or published elsewhere.
   • The author/s must be current financial members of the Building Dispute Practitioners' Society Inc.
   • The article must be published in the BDPS News from and including March 2007 up to and including March 2008 to be considered for the BDPS Prize in 2008, and so on for subsequent years.
4. A judging panel consisting of the President, the Secretary and the Editor will select the winning essay. In the case of a conflict of interest, a substitute member of the judging panel will be nominated by the Treasurer.
5. The Judging Panel has absolute discretion in selecting the winner of the Prize, including as to eligibility and whether the BDPS Prize will, or will not, be awarded.
6. The Building Dispute Practitioners' Society Inc. reserves absolutely the right to amend the rules of the BDPS Prize without prior notice or explanation.
7. The BDPS Prize will be announced and presented at the Annual Dinner.