Glaziers and the Security of Payment Act — What You Need to Know

You’ve finished the job. The glass is cut, fitted, sealed—it looks sharp. The head contractor or builder said payment would come through on invoice. Then weeks pass. Emails bounce. Promises get quieter. Sound familiar?

If you’re a glazier working as a subcontractor in Australia, you’re covered by some of the strongest payment protection laws in the world. The Security of Payment Act isn’t a secret weapon—but it’s close. Most glaziers don’t use it, which is exactly why understanding it matters.

What Is the Security of Payment Act, and Why Does It Exist?

The Security of Payment Act (also called the Building and Construction Industry Payment Act in some states) was designed to stop the cash-flow bleeding that kills small construction businesses. In Australia, the main Acts are:

• NSW: Security of Payment Act 1999
• Queensland: Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Act 2017
• Victoria: Security of Payment Act 2002
• South Australia: Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2009
• Western Australia: Construction Contracts Act 2004
• Tasmania, ACT, NT: Similar legislation applies

The basic idea is simple: if you’ve done the work, you have a right to claim payment quickly. You don’t have to wait for the whole project to finish, chase your head contractor through the courts, or hope they don’t go bust with your money still owed.

For glaziers, that matters. Glass work is often on the critical path of a build. You’re in and out fast, sometimes ahead of other trades. If the job stalls or the contractor runs out of cash, you shouldn’t be left empty-handed while waiting months for legal resolution.

How Payment Claims Work Under the Act

The process is straightforward and intentionally fast:

1. You issue a payment claim – This is a formal document (usually your invoice plus a covering statement) that sets out what you’re owed, what work you’ve done, and the contract reference. It has to follow the format rules in your state’s Act.
2. The head contractor or builder gets 10 business days (in most states) to issue a payment schedule – This is either agreement to pay you, or a notice saying they’ll pay part of it and why they’re disputing the rest.
3. If they don’t respond or you disagree, you can go to adjudication – An independent adjudicator steps in, reviews the evidence, and makes a decision fast (usually within 10 business days). This decision is binding, even while other disputes are still being worked out.
4. If the adjudicator rules in your favour, they must pay – There’s no appeal on the merits. They have to pay what’s decided, or face further legal action for non-compliance.

The key advantage: adjudication is quick, it’s cheap compared to court, and it forces a decision. Many debtors choose to pay or settle rather than face formal adjudication, because the process is designed to be efficient and hard to dodge.

What You Need Before You Lodge a Claim

Not every unpaid invoice qualifies. The Security of Payment Act only applies to work done under a construction contract. For glaziers, that’s usually clear—you’re installing glass on a building or renovation. But here’s what you need to establish:

• A written contract or written agreement (even an email chain counts, if it’s clear enough)
• Work that’s been performed under that contract – no speculative invoices
• A date the work was completed or payment was due – this matters for timing deadlines
• A clear amount owed – based on the contract price or the value of work done

If you’ve got those things, you can lodge a claim. If the contract is verbal-only and there’s nothing in writing, the Act won’t help—that’s a gap worth closing with a quick email confirmation or a written contract next time.

Glazier-Specific Considerations

Glass work sits in a tricky spot. You might be:

• A direct subcontractor to the builder or head contractor (you’re clearly covered)
• A sub-subcontractor (hired by a glazing company or another subcontractor) – you can still claim, but the chain of payment gets longer
• A sole trader supplying materials and labour together – still counts as a construction contract
• Working on a project that’s already behind schedule or cash-strapped – the Act still applies, but timing is critical

The Act covers all of these scenarios. The sooner you lodge a claim, the sooner you force a response. Don’t wait for the next invoice or the next conversation. If payment is overdue and the head contractor isn’t giving you a straight answer, a formal claim is your fastest path forward.

How to Get Started

The process doesn’t require a lawyer. You can file a payment claim yourself—it’s a practical, self-service step. What you need is the right paperwork format for your state and a clear record of what you’re owed.

PayClaim simplifies this. Instead of hunting down the legislation or drafting a claim from scratch, we’ve built a tool that handles the format, the timing, and the paperwork. At AUD$79 flat fee, it’s cheaper than an hour of a tradie’s time and faster than chasing emails.

Don’t sit on unpaid invoices. The longer you wait, the harder it gets—and the less likely the money is coming without a push. The Security of Payment Act exists because your work has value and deserves to be paid on time. Use it.