Master Builders applauds the Commissioner of the CFMEU Inquiry for recommending the urgent introduction of a regulator-enforced Queensland Construction Code.
“In the words of Stuart Wood KC, the ‘often disturbing’ allegations aired at the Inquiry so far, and the damage caused by the former Best Practice Industry Conditions (BPIC) policy, meant there was an ‘urgent and pressing’ need for this report to be released more than 12 months ahead of schedule. We couldn’t agree more,” Deputy CEO Michael Hopkins said.
“We welcome the Commissioner’s findings and applaud him for drawing a line in the sand, now, on what’s been exposed in the CFMEU’s entrenched culture of violence, intimidation, blatant misuse of power, and alleged criminal behaviour.
“The Code speaks to the very issues that we have long been highlighting, including restoring productivity on Queensland worksites, ensuring compliance with the law, maintaining high safety standards without WHS laws being weaponised for industrial activity, and Queensland’s industry leading the way with innovative construction practices.
“It reinforces our long-held view that clear rules, strong oversight, and greater accountability lead to better outcomes not only for industry, but avoiding cost blowouts and delays on taxpayer-funded projects.”
The Commissioner’s conservative estimate is that if the BPIC policy endorsed by the previous state government was still in place, the cost of these projects would have increased by 20 per cent – or another $24 billion on top of the $119 billion pipeline of work over the next four years.
“While the Crisafulli Government has scrapped BPIC, many agreements negotiated under its framework still exist and will progressively expire over the next 12 months,” Mr Hopkins said. “The true test during renegotiations will be if the code gives industry the power to reject unreasonable union demands and clauses which give unions control of building sites. If productivity-sapping clauses are stripped away, that will save taxpayers billions of dollars.”
Mr Hopkins said contractors and unions also needed to maintain a collaborative working relationship focused on improving safety and productivity on worksites.
“However, it’s disappointing that the CFMEU Administrator opposes both a Code and a regulator. This shows the union doesn’t accept that a reset of industry productivity is needed – and hasn’t moved on from the past.
“We will now work with the government and industry to review and finalise the proposed Code so that it addresses our submissions in a smart and balanced way.”