Security of Payment — Timelines by State
Security of Payment — Timelines by State
Security of Payment laws are the fastest way to get paid on a construction job — but they run on strict clocks. Miss a deadline as a respondent and you can be liable for the whole claim.
The Act in your state
| NSW | Building & Construction Industry SOP Act 1999 |
| VIC | Building & Construction Industry SOP Act 2002 |
| QLD | Building Industry Fairness (SOP) Act 2017 |
| SA / TAS / ACT | SOP Act 2009 (ACT NSW-aligned from 11 Mar 2024) |
| WA | Building & Construction Industry (SOP) Act 2021 (new contracts from 1 Aug 2022) |
| NT | Construction Contracts (SOP) Act 2004 (West-Coast model) |
Payment schedule (respondent's reply to a claim)
| NSW / VIC | 10 business days |
| QLD / SA / WA | 15 business days |
| No schedule provided in time | Respondent becomes liable for the full claimed amount |
Adjudication application (claimant)
| NSW | 10 bd (disputed) / 20 bd (unpaid scheduled) |
| VIC | 10 business days |
| QLD | 30 bd (disputed) / 20 bd (unpaid); complex over $750k = longer |
| WA | After the 15-day schedule period |
Guidance only — not legal advice. 'Business days' exclude weekends and public holidays, and a contract can set shorter periods. The clocks are strict — diarise them. Verify current windows with your state's SOP body.
Sources: state Security of Payment Acts (NSW/VIC/QLD/SA/TAS/ACT/WA/NT) · cross-checked Briefs 103-107, 113
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