Why AS 4000 matters?

AS 4000 is a foundational document for construction contracts in Australia. It sets out the rights, responsibilities, and obligations of parties involved in a project, supporting consistent and fair contract administration.

The 2025 revision seeks to ensure the standard remains current and practical, incorporating feedback from industry stakeholders and aligning with modern legal requirements.

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What's new in AS 4000:2025?

The update introduces several key updates:

• Legislative alignment
  Incorporates changes to reflect:
  › Goods and Services Tax (GST) – new provisions for tax invoices and payments.
  › Personal Property Securities Act (PPSA) – clauses to manage security interests.
  › Work Health and Safety (WHS) – updates for appointing a principal contractor.
• Modernised language and structure
  Simplified contract language and consolidated definitions (now all in Clause 1) improve readability and reduce ambiguity.
• Clarified practical completion
  Updates define practical completion more clearly, including that the completion date may precede the certificate issuance.
• Flexible dispute resolution
  New options include expert determination, mediation, and dispute boards. The default process is negotiation followed by arbitration or litigation.
• Formal Instrument of Agreement
  A new optional agreement form simplifies contract execution.

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Who uses AS 4000?

The standard is designed for a wide range of professionals involved in construction and infrastructure projects, including:

• Principals and contractors
• Project managers
• Legal advisors
• Contract administrators and consultants

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Key principles retained

While the structure and language have been modernised, AS 4000:2025 continues to uphold the core principles that have made it a trusted industry standard:

• Balanced risk allocation - consistent with the Abrahamson Principles.
• Clarity and consistency - across clauses and definitions.
• Practicality - designed for real-world application.

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What's next?

Following the release of AS 4000:2025, Standards Australia will review and update related documents, including:

• HB 140:2000, Administration Manual for AS 4000
• AS 4902:2000, General Conditions of Contract for Design and Construct

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Watch: Understanding the updates to AS 4000

John Cooper, Partner-in-Charge Brisbane at Jones Day, and Kareen Riley-Takos, Chief of Engagement, Standards and International Relations at Standards Australia, walk through the revised standard and its practical implications.

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Access the standard

AS 4000:2025 is available in a fully editable Microsoft Word format, making it easy to tailor to your project needs. For more information, visit the License Content page.

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