Unfinished business for new Queensland Government
Master Builders will look to the newly elected government to resolve unfinished business, with a key focus on housing affordability, creating demand for new construction and continuing work on positive and fair changes to building industry legislation that benefits everyone.
Master Builders is calling on all parties to commit to continuing the work now underway as a result of the Queensland Building Plan, as well as considering some vital additional measures.
Master Builders’ CEO Grant Galvin said to keep new buildings affordable and strengthen the industry to ensure it can deliver the buildings Queenslanders need, a number of issues in key areas must be addressed.
“Addressing housing affordability and increasing demand for new construction are a vital part of Master Builders’ State Election Priorities. It’s essential that we consider strategies that will assist driving down the cost of construction and the cost of land,” Mr Galvin said.
“To ensure the stability and growth of the industry, it’s also critical that the new government commits to increasing investment in the government building program.
“The construction of hospitals, ambulance and police stations, and schools are the cornerstone of regional economies, and their associated construction work and ongoing employment opportunities have a flow-on effect across the entire community.
“However, affordability and demand are not our only focus. There are a number of other areas that must also be addressed, including the key areas of payments and disputes, liability and risk, non-conforming products and safety.”
Master Builders will work with the new government to ensure a genuine and comprehensive review of security of payment reforms, in particular Project Bank Accounts, is conducted.
Master Builders’ statewide election priorities also calls for a range of other measures, including an industry-wide scheme of continuing professional development, capping builders’ liability for latent defects at 10 years, a comprehensive, easy-to-access product certification system, winding back of some unnecessary WHS laws, and a mandatory statewide Housing Code to simplify approvals.
There are a number of election initiatives recently announced that Master Builders fully supports, including the Treasurer’s announcement that a re-elected ALP will create a grant to bring pre-1980’s dwellings up to code and improve their resistance to cyclones, which should flow through to lower insurance premiums.
Also, the Premier’s announcement of a major hospitals funding package, including funding for Caboolture, Ipswich and Logan Hospitals and bi-partisan support for Brisbane Live, and a new entertainment precinct centred on a 17,000 seat entertainment arena that will be built on top of the Roma Street railway tracks.