Stephen Goddard talks to Drive Tuesday about consumer protection, or lack thereof, for purchasers of off-the-plan dwellings.

The Opal tower calamity has raised public awareness of the pitfalls of such purchases. Stephen is the chairperson of the Owners Corporation Network, the peak consumer representative body for the strata community. He says consumers have more protection buying a fridge than buying an apartment off the plan. He is also highly critical of the private certification process introduced in NSW in 1998.