Supporting our subcontractors

IN THE past 10 years, some of the biggest names in property development in Cairns collapsed after their banks put the squeeze on them in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis of 2007-2008.

Hundreds of staff at firms run by Tom Hedley (nine Hedley companies), Udo Jattke (Glenwood Homes), Roy Lavis (CEC) and Ross Straguszi and Peter Hopkins (H&S Vision), as well as other firms in Cairns, lost their jobs and even more subcontractors were owed millions of dollars.

Many subbies went to the wall as well and Cairns was left reeling, with some of the biggest names in business left high and dry.

Over the past month, the Cairns Post has joined other News Corp newspapers and websites throughout Queensland to highlight the cause of subbies and campaign for a better deal.

Subbies are owed more than $500 million by builders throughout the state. The campaign has been a success. The Queensland Government this week appointed retired Supreme Court judge John Byrne to head a special taskforce into allegations of white-collar crime in the state’s building sector.

The taskforce will forensically examine the circumstances surrounding the collapse of a number of major construction companies that have left millions of dollars in debt.

It’s a win for people power and a win for newspapers who successfully campaign for community causes. Nick Dalton Deputy editor