Building and construction minister Chris Penk announced changes to the earthquake-prone building system yesterday, saying the current system for assessing and managing seismic risk in buildings was placing an overwhelming financial burden on owners. The old system of percentage risk had been dumped and replaced with four levels of mitigation. But in terms of building risk, the other changes that they’ve brought in really do help us." — Unreinforced masonry building with unsecured facades and walls facing public areas will be automatically deemed earthquake-prone buildings. — Four levels of mitigation — full retrofit, targeted retrofit, facade screening or remain on the earthquake-prone building register.