This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

A Melbourne high-rise fire will not prompt speedier action from the Victorian government to rectify risky building cladding like that fitted to London’s Grenfell Tower.

The Labor premier, Daniel Andrews, said on Tuesday his government would maintain a measured approach to the issue, and was unmoved by Monday’s blaze, started by a cigarette on the 22nd floor of the 40-storey Spencer Street apartment block.

The fire quickly spread five storeys up and prompted the 48-hour evacuation of hundreds of residents from the complex, which had previously been identified as “moderate risk” due to its type of exterior cladding.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest The fire in Melbourne’s Spencer Street leapt several floors of the apartment building. Photograph: Bekah Jayne @bekahjaynex

Andrews told reporters on Tuesday he would continue to listen to the experts.

“The most important (thing) to do is to listen to the advice provided by the bipartisan inquiry into these very serious issues,” he said.

“We don’t for an instant underestimate how serious these issues are, that’s why we have taken action and that’s why we will stay the course on it.”

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The Victorian Cladding Taskforce, which was created after Melbourne’s LaCrosse building went up in flames in 2014, has paved the way for reform, Andrews said.

“(The taskforce) gave us a way forward and we have implemented faithfully each and every one of the recommendations.”

The Victorian Greens leader, Samantha Ratnam, wants the government to stump up taxpayer money to bring forward rectification works.

“The government should establish a cladding safety fund, make available at least $50m to start with ... that will help rectify at least 800 apartments from the outset and then the government can pursue the legal action to recoup those costs,” she said.

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The Victorian opposition leader, Michael O’Brien, called on the government to come clean with tenants about whether they are living in a building that is “potentially a fire trap”.

The Spencer Street building had been compliant with the national construction code, the federal industry minister, Karen Andrews, said in a statement on Tuesday.

The apartment building is one of more than 2,000 inspected by the Victorian Building Authority, its chief executive, Sue Eddy, confirmed.

ʙᴇᴋᴀʜ ᴊᴀʏɴᴇ (@bekahjaynex) Just by Spencer street station .. I honestly hope whoever is in there gets out okay!! #melbourne #fire — you feel so helpless looking on but the fire engines are on their way. pic.twitter.com/jYGYqSc0Wb

Two notices were issued, requiring smoke alarms be installed in bedrooms adjacent to walls covered with the cladding, she said.

Cities across the world began assessing buildings following London’s Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017 when an inferno engulfed the 24-storey block of flats, killing 72 people.

Residents of the Melbourne tower have been barred from re-entering for 48 hours.

States and territories will be required to provide a progress update on implementing building regulations in regard to cladding at next week’s meeting of building ministers.