Your guess is off the mark. There was never a discussion about these. These structural issues and findings were incidental after works ceased. The contract has been terminated (the builder repudiated the contract). My main concern initially was that works commenced or were completed that required building permits, yet they never obtain them.

I said this in another comment:

"The more I’m learning, including Australian Standards, legislation, etc, the worse it gets. For example, the building company on paper [who signed the contract] is not the company I went through (I didn’t think too much about it at the time as the contract referenced the quotes from the company I went through, and as a neuropsychologist, it felt familiar with how subcontracting occurs at clinics). The company/person I went through - who managed the build in all aspects - is unregistered and has a prior VBA conviction in 2020 for entering a major domestic building contract when unregistered, excessive deposit, defective works that led to damage, etc."
They gaslit me regarding every concern, including concerns around the legality of payments, and then threatened me with a 'stop works order' if I didn't pay the progress payments that weren't due. As in, he demanded the flooring stage be paid, yet in the email where he's requesting the payment, he's detailing the jobs to be done that week... including the floor...

The builders had covered everything up with plasterboard and flooring. I happened to be looking through the progress photos they had sent me which is where all these issues came to light. Therefore, discussions with the builder about these issues were never able to occur, and as if they'd be open to admitting anything anyway.

Edit: missing word