23 August 2024
Master Builders supports new legislation to place the CFMEUQ C&G division into administration in Queensland, with the passage of a Bill amending the State’s Industrial Relations Act 2016.
“Criminal activity has no place in the building and construction industry and these strong actions by government are the only way for any potential law-breaking, coercive or corrupt behaviour to be exposed and eradicated,” Master Builders CEO Paul Bidwell said.
“It’s also vital that the community has confidence in our industry to play its essential role in delivering the projects our communities need, particularly in the face of the dual housing and cost- of-living crises.
“Part of the picture are entities such as BUSSQ, BERT, CIP and MATES in Construction. They are significant contributors to the industry, helping tens of thousands of employees and workers who benefit from their services. We urge the administrator to consider the work these entities have done with us and the union, as they work to shape a more positive future for the industry.
“We look forward to a robust administration process that we are hopeful will result in a clear outcome for the union in our state and across the nation.”
Mr Bidwell said the administration was an important first step towards improving the culture in the industry, allowing it to focus on getting on with the job of building Queensland for the future.
“As this situation continues to unfold, the government’s own Best Practice Industry Conditions (BPICs) remain in place, negatively impacting on the key projects that Queenslanders need by decreasing productivity and consequently pushing up costs,” he said.
“Our analysis shows that depending on how they’re applied, BPICs risk slashing productivity to as low as three days’ worth of work a week, adding between 18 and 33 per cent to the cost of building an apartment. This can have flow-on effects to the private sector, because trades expect similar conditions whether it’s a BPIC project or not.
“All these factors make for a strong case for BPIC to be scrapped altogether, ensuring the major projects and high-rise developments our state needs to reach government housing targets can be delivered sooner and more affordably. This must of course happen with worker safety and build quality kept at the top of the agenda – we are not about cutting corners or negatively impacting workers’ conditions
“We maintain that all sides of politics need to commit to their position on BPIC before Queenslanders head to the polls on October 26.”
Major Sponsors
