A report into Victoria's building and plumbing regulator has made just one recommendation - for the watchdog to monitor its own progress.
The auditor-general's frank assessment of the troubled Victorian Building Authority was tabled in parliament on Wednesday.
It found the regulator had not been transparent about meeting government performance targets and still had a long way to go.
"As of October 2023 Victorian Building Authority still has a significant amount of work to do to become a best-practice regulator," the report said.
Three prior reviews of the watchdog led to 48 separate recommendations but it has only implemented five and started work on 31.
The reviews found the authority had prioritised less complex inspections over higher-risk buildings and did not focus on addressing the greatest risks of community harm.
The authority was also tasked with keeping a record of builders and plumbers who may not be meeting quality and safety standards.
The auditor-general's report said the planning minister set 14 performance targets for 2021 to 2023 but the authority had only met six and did not fulfil a requirement to publicly report its progress.
"Victorian Building Authority does not consistently monitor and report its progress against all targets and recommendations," it stated.
"This means it cannot be sure it is making all the improvements."
The auditor-general called on the body to develop an inspection program targeting high-risk buildings and construction sites, to improve its communication with the sector and upgrade "outdated" systems.
It has been a tumultuous year for the authority, including the resignation of chief executive Sue Eddy days after it was revealed some plumbing inspections were carried out virtually.
In September, WorkSafe also laid charges over the death of one of its inspectors who took his own life in 2022.
The auditor-general recommended the authority set up a system to consistently monitor its own progress, which was accepted in principle.
A response from Victorian Building Authority interim chief commissioner Justin Madden was included in the report.
"We are conscious that there is still more work to do and we are committed to implementing the recommendations from the various reviews so the VBA continues to improve as a trusted regulator," Mr Madden said.
He said the authority had only received some recommendations as recently as May 2023.
In a statement, the Victorian government said new chief executive Anna Cronin, who started in June, has been tasked with reforming the organisation's culture and performance.
"Victorians rightly expect their homes to be built to approved building standards and built to last - and that the regulator is functioning appropriately and effectively," the spokesperson said.
