Grocon hit with fine

COMMONWEALTH Games Village builder Grocon has been slapped with the first fines issued under new laws aimed at making sure subcontractors are paid on time.

The builder’s Queensland company was issued $27,000 in penalties over its treatment of subbies working on the $650 million project.

However, John Goddard, founder of subcontractor advocacy group Subbies United, said the $27,000 slug would do little to deter big operators from ripping off workers.

“For a builder as big as Grocon, it’s pocket change, a slap on the wrist,” he said.

“Especially for the worry, stress and hardship they put everyone though.

“It was only thanks to pressure from the Gold Coast Bulletin that it even got sorted.”

Games Minister Kate Jones was forced to step in last year after tradies working on the project complained they were out of pocket by more than $2 million dollars.

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission suspended Grocon’s licence last October after it failed to meet financial requirements and the company surrendered it completely the following month.

The commission said it understood all affected workers had been paid, but decided to act over the lateness of the payments.

Commissioner Brett Bassett said he hoped the fines would deter other companies who did not pay workers on time.

“(This) marks the first time we’ve used this section of the QBCC Act and we won’t hesitate to use it again in cases where payments are being made late to licensees,” he said.