The Victorian Government has released the Victorian Cladding Taskforce Chairs interim report, which outlines the extent of combustible cladding on buildings.

The report states the Victorian Government will take action to prevent the use of combustible cladding on Victorian buildings and makes significant recommendations to address the issue. It also says the Taskforce has identified up to 1,400 buildings as most likely having aluminium composite panels (ACP) with a polyethylene (PE) core or expanded polystyrene (EPS).

In response to these findings, the Victorian Government has directed the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) to inspect more worksites and buildings, including a state-wide audit of residential buildings likely to have combustible cladding. The VBA will provide $5m to conduct the audit.

“The Government will take immediate action to address cladding on publicly-owned buildings, including hospitals. A Department of Health and Human Services audit has already looked at 1,00 buildings and has identified eight hospitals where non-compliant cladding must be replaced,” said the Victorian Government in a press release.