Investigation gives battling couple reason to smile again
IT’S been a tough five and a half years for Beau and Kerry Hartshorn since the Walton Construction collapse left them homeless.
The couple’s landscaping business was owed more than $500,000 for labour and materials supplied to the Coles Nambour supermarket job, which was of the last done before Walton went into liquidation.
The couple and their then young children moved in with Beau’s parents after their own home was sold to pay down debt.
They all still live there and hold little hope of ever being able to afford their own place again.
But the Hartshorns were beaming yesterday at news the State Government had appointed an investigator to head a special taskforce to forensically examine major construction company collapses in Queensland.
“It feels as though we are getting somewhere and will get some justice,” Beau said.
“It has been a long time coming. Hopefully it will show the industry you can’t commit offences and get away with it.
“I’d like to see it lead to compensation and to see people repaid what they are owed.
“I’m just hopeful to see some positives come out of it for the future of subcontractors.
“It will mean someone is watching your back.”
Complaints laid with Queensland Police about the Walton collapse would be retested as part of the investigation to be headed by retired judge Justice John Bryne.