Defect Evasion Playbook
By Tim Law, PhD (Architecture)

What if the worst instincts of the Australian building industry had a playbook… and what if you could read it?

In this darkly satirical and eye-opening exposé, architectural scientist Tim Law channels the voice of “Dodgy Bilda,” a fictional but all-too-familiar rogue builder, as he pens a series of wickedly clever letters to his nephew, “Shonky.” Modeled after C.S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters, the Defect Evasion Playbook lays bare the real-world tactics used by bad actors in Australia’s construction industry to evade responsibility, frustrate owners, and exploit loopholes in regulation and law.

Inside, you’ll discover:

• The infamous “6Ds” of defect evasion: Demand, Delay, Deny, Defend, Deflect, and Dissolve — explained with biting wit and chilling accuracy.

• True-to-life scenarios and interludes that expose how systemic failures and regulatory gaps leave homeowners unprotected and builders unaccountable.

• A satirical “leaked manual” that doubles as a Trojan horse for advocacy — arming consumers, policymakers, and reformers with the knowledge to anticipate and counter industry dodges.

• Candid commentary on the Victorian Buyer Protections Bill 2025 and why legislative reforms, while well-intentioned, may still leave cracks wide enough for the unscrupulous to slip through.

• A rare blend of gallows humour and genuine empathy for those caught in the crossfire of shoddy construction, legal attrition, and policy inertia.

Who should read this book?

• Homeowners, tenants, and strata managers battling building defects.

• Policymakers, regulators, and journalists seeking to understand why reform is so hard—and so urgent.

• Builders and industry professionals who want to reflect on the culture and incentives shaping their world.

• Anyone who enjoys sharp satire with a serious message.

Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction and satire, not legal advice. All characters are fictitious, though the tactics are drawn from real cases, tribunal transcripts, and lived experience. For full details, see the author’s preface and disclaimer.

About the Author:
Tim Law, PhD, is an architectural scientist, technical advisor to the Australian building codes board and various state building regulators, and a leading researcher on building defects, moisture, and occupant health. He has provided expert testimony to parliamentary inquiries and contributed to national building code reforms. This Playbook is his provocative—and hopeful—contribution to the fight for safer, healthier homes.

Read it for the laughs. Remember it for the lessons. Share it to help fix a broken system.